Sharon B. Megdal

Director, Water Resources Research Center (WRRC)

Water Resources Research Center, The University of Arizona, 350 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719 USA

520-621-9591
smegdal@arizona.edu

Documents

Megdal-CV-07-01-25.pdf
Megdal-Bio-07-01-25.pdf

Sharon B. Megdal, Ph.D. is Director of the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), a Cooperative Extension center and a research unit in the College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences. Other primary titles are Professor and Specialist in the Department of Environmental Science, C.W. & Modene Neely Endowed Professor, and Distinguished Outreach Professor. 

Sharon Megdal bridges the academic, practitioner, and civil society communities through water policy and management research, education, and engagement programs. The geographic scope of Dr. Megdal’s work ranges from local to international. Applied research projects include analysis of water management, policy, and governance in water-scarce regions and transboundary aquifer assessment. 

Sharon Megdal is the lead editor of the book, Shared Borders, Shared Waters: Israeli-Palestinian and Colorado River Basin Water Challenges, and she has guest edited several special journal issues. Dr. Megdal teaches the graduate course “Water Policy in Arizona and Semi-arid Regions”. In 2020, she was awarded the Warren A. Hall Medal for lifetime achievement in water resources research and education by the Universities Council on Water Resources, and in 2024 she was named a fellow of the American Water Resources Association. 

Sharon Megdal serves on the Board of Governors for the Kasser Joint Institute for Food, Water, and Energy Security, the Leadership Team for the Colorado River Basin Water & Tribes Initiative, the Women in Water Diplomacy Network’s Global Leadership Council, and Governor Hobbs’ Water Policy Council. Past public service includes serving for 12 years as a popularly elected Director for the Central Arizona Project. Other past service includes serving as a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission, the State Transportation Board, and the Arizona Medical Board. Sharon Megdal holds a Ph.D. degree in Economics from Princeton University.

Publications

The Arizona Virtual Water University is Becoming a Reality

During last November’s 85th Arizona Town Hall at the Grand Canyon, Governor Janet Napolitano announced her proposal for an Arizona Virtual Water University. Her AVWU concept was to bring together the talents of the three universities — University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University — to better focus their efforts on state water needs. 

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Summing Up: New Developments in State and WRRC Water Affairs

Worthy of note are some recent developments in water news and affairs, some with statewide significance and some of special importance here at the Water Resources Research Center. 

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WRRC’s Conference Considers What it Takes to Fix an Ecosystem

On April 6 the Water Resources Research Center held its annual conference. Titled “Water and the Environment: The Role of Ecosystem Restoration,” the conference provided a forum for learning about environmental enhancement in Arizona. Information, experiences and perspectives were shared, and restoration efforts were “showcased.” 

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The Importance of Water Storage and Recovery in Arizona

In January of 2004, Dr. Harry W. Ayer retired after completing over thirty-four years of service to Arizona’s agriculture.

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Water Pricing Has Potential to Promote Water Conservation

The pricing of water is an interesting and important topic. The rates water utilities charge are designed to recover the cost of delivering water to customers. 

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Past, Present AZ Town Halls Raise Water Issues Needing Attention

In 1997, I attended my first Arizona Town Hall. The topic was water. This fall, I had the privilege of attending the 85th Town Hall, entitled “Arizona’s Water Future: Challenges and Opportunities,” in a dual role. 

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