WRRC Director Contributes to Rural Groundwater Resilience Workshop in Patagonia, AZ
Sharon B. Megdal and Kerry Schwartz
On October 30, 2025, WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal participated as a panelist at the Patagonia-Sonoita-Elgin Rural Groundwater Resilience Workshop, which was held in Patagonia, Arizona. The workshop was organized by Arizona State University’s Arizona Water Innovation Initiative, in partnership with the U of A’s Arizona Institute for Resilience and the Lincoln Institute’s Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy.
Megdal contributed to a session focused on understanding the region’s water context, during which she provided an overview of Arizona’s groundwater policy landscape, including the Groundwater Management Act, Active Management Areas, and current discussions related to rural groundwater oversight. Her remarks offered important context to help frame local conversations during the workshop.
The event brought together community members, local leaders, and water professionals to share perspectives and identify opportunities to support rural groundwater resilience in the Patagonia-Sonoita-Elgin region. Kerry Schwartz, former Arizona Project WET Director and retired U of A Environmental Science faculty member, was one of the attendees who contributed to the collaborative and community-focused discussions.