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Any meeting that purports to discuss Arizona water leadership must give due recognition to Water Buffalos. The WRRC conference was no exception. As part of her welcoming remarks WRRC Director Sharon Megdal displayed a carved image of a Water Buffalo and set the wooden figure on the speakers’ podium so that the spirit of the Water Buffalo might prevail over the conference.
Established water professionals attending the conference smiled knowingly at the mention of Water Buffalos. Some loudly guffawed. Many of the emerging leaders at the meeting, those with less experience in the water field, were woefully unacquainted with the species. Their education is incomplete.
Water Buffalos were generally prominent and respected leaders in Arizona water affairs. To be a Water Buffalo was a point of pride showing that an individual made a mark or a splash in Arizona water. At one time most Arizona water meetings had at least a few Water Buffalos attending, a knowing aura of water wisdom setting them apart from the common herd. Water Buffalos are now few and far between, most having retired and gone on to greener pastures. See page 4 for interview with Sid Wilson, a well respected Water Buffalo who has made his mark on Arizona water affairs.