Water Issues in the Tucson Region Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Town Hall on Water Sahuarita, Ari

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Water Issues in the Tucson RegionCongresswoman
Gabrielle Giffords Town Hall on WaterSahuarita,
Arizona July 1, 2008

• Sharon B. Megdal, Ph.D.
• Director, Water Resources Research Center
• Director, Water Sustainability Program
• C.W. Modene Neely Endowed Professor
• smegdal_at_cals.arizona.edu
• www.cals.arizona.edu

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Water Resources Research Center

• WRRC Mission
• The University of Arizona's Water Resources
  Research Center (WRRC) promotes understanding of
  critical state and regional water management and
  policy issues through research, community
  outreach and public education.
• The WRRC is committed to
• assisting communities in water management and
  policy
• educating teachers, students and the public about
  water and
• encouraging scientific research on state water
  issues.

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We do this in a variety of ways

• Publications
• Conferences, seminars, and other gatherings
• Web Site www.cals.arizona.edu/azwater/
• Real-world research
• Educational and outreach programs
• Part of university-wide Water Sustainability
  Program, which funds research, including applied
  research, education and outreach. We try to work
  with partners on our projects.

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Mapping and Decision Support Tools
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Focus on Water Management and Policy Water
RegulationsLocation, Location, Location!
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Some Current/Recent Projects

• Recharge as a Tool for Meeting Water Policy
  Objectives
• Evaluation of Department of Water Resources
  Management Plans for the AMAs
• Water Resource Availability for the Tucson Region
• Regional Water Planning Perspectives Study
• Cochise County Water Use Study of domestic wells
• Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment
  District (CAGRD)
• Conserve to Enhance
• Redoing our Water Map poster
• Arroyo Publication on water re-use
• Other

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Partial List of Issues and Challenges

• Drought
• Unknowns related to climate change
• Shortages on the Colorado
• Growth
• Use of effluent for potable and other water needs
  the next major new water source
• Access to and utilization of renewable supplies
• Interstate and international water issues
• The surface water/groundwater interface
• Riparian areas and other environmental
  considerations related to water
• Pricing
• The role of Conservation
• Water and Energy
• Etc.

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We are a resource

• Part of Arizona Cooperative Extension
• We endeavor to be accessible
• www.cals.arizona.edu/azwater
• smegdal_at_cals.arizona.edu

When the wells dry, we know the worth of water.
Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richards Almanac, 1746
The frog does not drink up the pond in which he
lives. American Indian Proverb