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February 16, 2018 / Volume 6, Issue 7
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Exciting Panels at 2018 WRRC Conference
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A diverse array of speakers will explore the many facets of our topic, "The Business of Water," at the WRRC Annual Conference to be held on March 28 at the University of Arizona Student Union. Each of the following panels will contain three to four expert presentations as well as moderated follow-up discussions and plenty of time for you to join in the conversation.
- Public-Private Partnerships (P3)
- Water Transactions: Complexities, Lessons Learned, and Ethics
- Binational Cooperation
- The Environment and the Business of Water
- Water and Economic Opportunity
The opening panel will delve into the ways private investors can work with public water utilities to address infrastructure and water needs. Case studies will demonstrate how P3s have helped to create innovative water transfers to the City of San Antonio, TX, created desalinated water supplies for San Diego, CA, and improved water reclamation facilities in Pima County, AZ. The complexities, lessons learned, and ethical considerations of water transactions will be the focus of our thought provoking second morning panel. Throughout the afternoon, we will look at the whole ecosystem of water -- not only water's critical value to environmentally important areas, but also how water is often at the core of economic development plans and community identity. To learn more about our exciting panel speakers, please see the
agenda
on the WRRC website.
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WRRC Brown Bag - Binational Studies of the Transboundary San Pedro and Santa Cruz Aquifers: Results and Future Directions
February 21, 2018
Time/Location: 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. / WRRC Sol Resnick Conference Room (350 N. Campbell Ave.)
Speakers: Jacob Petersen-Perlman, Research Analyst, University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center
James Callegary, Hydrologist, USGS Arizona Water Sciences Center
Elia Tapia, Graduate Research Assistant, University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center
The Santa Cruz and San Pedro aquifers are important sources of water for the Arizona-Sonora border region. Even though groundwater from these aquifers is an essential resource for social, economic, and environmental needs in both countries, assessments of these aquifers have not been conducted by a binational team until recently.
At the Brown Bag, researchers will share information from the binational studies of the Transboundary San Pedro and Santa Cruz aquifers. The studies were conducted by the USGS and WRRC in partnership with the University of Sonora and others. The presentation will also discuss future directions for studying these aquifers.
If you can't make it to the seminar on February 21, join us
here.
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WRRC Brown Bag - How Myths and Misinformation Stand in the Way of Solving our Water Problems
February 22, 2018
Time/Location: 4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. /
ENR2 S107 (
1064 E. Lowell St.)
Speaker: John Fleck
, Director, University of New Mexico Water Resources Program
With another dry year setting in across the West, the challenges of meeting the water supply needs of a growing population while maintaining our rural communities and a healthy environment are again being thrown into sharp relief. The continuing decline of Lake Mead has become a symbol of deepening problems, but there are also less-noticed examples of success - in conserving water, and in sharing in times of scarcity - which we need to understand in order to craft solutions.
A video will be posted on wrrc.arizona.edu shortly after the presentation.
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WRRC Brown Bag - Salt River Project
March 2, 2018
Time/Location: 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. / WRRC Sol Resnick Conference Room (350 N. Campbell Ave.)
Speakers:
Steven Nebiker
, Vice President, HydroLogics
Tim Skarupa, Senior Analyst in Water Rights and Contracts group, SRP
HydroLogics uses water resources modeling tools to facilitate planning, operations, and conflict resolution on the scale of single-reservoir systems all the way up to large multi-state river basins. The conjunctive management of surface and groundwater resources at SRP has historically created a very reliable and sustainable supply of water for SRP's shareholders and customers. Surface water stored in the reservoirs and the availability of groundwater to augment surface water is key to maintaining this reliable and consistent water supply vital to sustain life and the economic vitality of the Valley and the Phoenix metropolitan area. The management of these water sources has evolved over time to address uncertainty while meeting customer needs. This was done by looking at the past historical and paleo tree ring record and applying those findings to future uncertainty using the Reservoir Planning Model developed by HydroLogics for SRP.
If you can't make the seminar on March 2, you can join us here.
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Upcoming Brown Bag Seminars
- Mar. 13 - Ben Wilder, Director, Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill
- Mar. 19 - Val Little, Director, Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona
- Apr. 12 - Felicia Marcus, Chair, California State Water Resources Control Board
- Apr. 17 - Chris Castro, Associate Professor, Department of Hydrology & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona
- Apr. 26 - Cindy Wallace, Research Geographer, USGS Western Geographic Science Center
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AZ Water Luncheon - Permanent Canal Closures and Pump Project, New Orleans, Louisiana
March 1, 2018
Time/Location:
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. / Hotel Tucson City Center (475 N. Granada, Tucson)
Speaker: John Tate, Stantec Consulting Services
The City of New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In response, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers embarked on the $14.6 billion Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction system to repair the damage and improve resiliency for the city and surrounding communities. The project facilities form one of the largest drainage pumping systems in the world and can operate continuously and independently during major hurricane events.
Sponsorships allow up to four students to attend this luncheon at no charge, but pre-registration is mandatory. Students interested in this opportunity are encouraged to contact Carol Johnson.
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 Jacob Petersen-Perlman Appointed to IBWC Southeast Arizona Citizens Forum Board
WRRC Research Analyst Jacob Petersen-Perlman was appointed to serve a two-year term as a member of the Southeast Arizona Citizens Forum Board of the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC). The USIBWC established the Southeast Arizona Citizens Forum to promote the exchange of information regarding USIBWC activities in Santa Cruz, Cochise, and Pima counties. All Citizens Forum meetings are open to the public and act as a focal point for exchanging information between the USIBWC and the local community regarding ongoing and future USIBWC projects in the area. The Board will meet regularly in Santa Cruz, Cochise, and Pima counties approximately four times a year.
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Arizona is Well Represented at Multi-State Salinity Coalition Summit
The Multi-State Salinity Coalition (MSSC) Summit "Manage the Feast; Feed the Famine" held February 8-9 at the Tuscany Suites and Casino in Las Vegas, NV attracted many participants from Arizona. The goal of the coalition is to foster collaboration on the policy and technology of desalination and salinity management to create reliable water from alternative sources. During the International Session, a panel of recognized experts shared their global experiences. WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal presented "Desalination in Israel". This talk highlighted the many obstacles and problems that Israel needed to overcome as well as opportunities to "compare notes" when looking for solutions to water management.
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Get WET This Summer, Stay Cool!
It's not too early to make plans to Get WET, Stay Cool this summer! With the 2018 lineup of Teacher Academies, APW reinvigorates its commitment to promoting effective water stewardship and evolving best instructional practices for Arizona's teachers and students. From Flagstaff to Tucson, we will be exploring the Colorado River lifeline, investigating past, present, and future water solutions within Arizona's watersheds, and designing practical engineering solutions for water management in our changing climate. We'll even be exploring the world of underwater robotics! At every opportunity, we will engage in studying the real-life and relevant water issues using systems thinking through DSRP (making Distinctions, identifying Systems, recognizing Relationships and thinking from multiple Perspectives). Arizona faces a water-challenged future. Our Teacher Academies are a refreshing way for teachers and students to be a part of making our water future sustainable.
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2018 AWRA Summer Conference
Growing populations and economies will increase competition for water resources around the world. Since water resources respect no political boundaries, equitable agreements to govern, manage, and protect these resources are essential to the social and economic well-being of all water users. On July 9-11, 2018 in Ft. Worth, TX the AWRA 2018 Summer Specialty Conference "The Science, Management and Governance of Transboundary Groundwater" will discuss the newest developments in transboundary groundwater research, practice, and innovative approaches for developing sustainable governance and management systems, from the local to international scales.
The Conference Planning Committee is seeking abstracts on all topics dealing with, or related to, the science, management and governance of transboundary groundwater. The term "transboundary" is not limited to "transnational", but refers to situations when groundwater crosses or underlies two or more political jurisdictions, international or not, so that it must be managed as a transboundary resource.
Deadline for abstract submission is February 28.
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Colorado River Conference Coming to Tucson
On March 1-2, 2018, a Water Law Institute conference on the Law of the Colorado River will be held in Tucson, AZ. This is the conference's 20th anniversary year and talks will not only look back to learn from history but will also look forward toward new challenges and innovations. A special panel on Arizona's water supply needs will feature ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke and Tucson Water Director Tim Thomure. From UA, Prof. Connie Woodhouse will describe research on climate change impacts on the Colorado River and Prof. Robert Glennon will address the future of the river. These and other Arizona-based experts will join speakers and panelists from across the Colorado River Basin and Washington, D.C. in sharing perspectives and providing updates on a range of hot topics from drought mitigation to Tribal water rights.
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