Paper by Simone Williams Published in Land Journal
The dissertation research of Simone Williams continues to enrich the scientific landscape. The journal Land has recently published a research article by Williams and others, including WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal. Titled “Mapping Groundwater Vulnerability in Arid Regions: A Comparative Risk Assessment Using Modified DRASTIC Models, Land Use, and Climate Change Factors,” the article presents an approach to evaluating groundwater vulnerability and contamination risk in arid/semi-arid regions that integrates land use and climate data. This approach was used to assess risks to groundwater in the Verde River Basin and Prescott Active Management Area. The resulting framework for mapping risks provides a platform for developing actionable strategies to improve groundwater protection and sustainable management in regions facing water security challenges. Williams worked as a Graduate Research Associate at the WRRC from 2020 until 2024 while pursuing her PhD in Arid Lands Resource Sciences at the U of A. She now works as a Water Policy Analyst at the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA).