News

The US Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources Research Act Program will soon release the request for proposals (RFP) on Grants.gov for two key programs: the National Competitive Grants (104g) General Program and the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program. RFP approval for a third program, the 104g PFAS Program, is still under review by the Office of Management and Budget.

The WRRC takes pleasure in helping to connect our readers with important water news throughout Arizona. When you receive your copy of the Weekly Wave or Summer Wave, don’t forget to check out the “Water News” section for updates from in and around the state.

The journal "Water" has issued a Call for Papers for a Special Issue titled Working Across Borders to Address Water Scarcity, which echoes the theme of the WRRC 2025 Annual Conference, Shared Borders, Shared Waters: Working Together in Times of Scarcity.

On June 12, 2025, the Sonoran Institute and Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy held a Douglas-Agua Prieta "Growing Water Smart" workshop in Douglas, AZ, where participants from both sides of the border learned about regional efforts towards better management of their shared aquifer.

On June 3–5, 2025, WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal and U of A Extension Specialist Debankur Sanyal participated in the 2025 Annual Water Resources Conference of the Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) and National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR), which was held in Minneapolis, MN.

Water is important to all living things. In arid regions where water is becoming increasingly scarce, a crucial step toward protecting this vital resource is increasing awareness. One way that the WRRC has extended its public reach is through our annual photo contest, which solicits photographs that we use to promote our events, programs, and publications to bring about more water awareness.

On June 19, friends and colleagues of Ken Seasholes gathered to celebrate his retirement from Central Arizona Project (CAP) after more than 17 years at that organization. A well-respected authority on Arizona water, Seasholes began his career as a WRRC graduate student in 1993, and after moving on, he maintained his connection with the WRRC, collaborating on events and publications and ready with ideas and advice on a range of other activities.

In April 2025, Coverdell Fellow and WRRC Graduate Research Assistant Noah Rios was awarded the Margaret Vaughn Award for Outstanding Service to the Community at the Coverdell Fellows’ annual end of the year ceremony. 

The WRRC is pleased to introduce Katherine Marsh as its 2025 Arroyo Summer Intern. Marsh is currently a junior at the University of Arizona, studying Biosystems Engineering with minors in Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Science.

The WRRC is pleased to announce the publication of its 2024 Annual Report. The report highlights how, through applied research, outreach, and engagement, the WRRC continues to contribute to water resource planning, assessment, and capacity building, as well as expand awareness and understanding of water resource issues.