WRRC 2024 Conference Agenda

Welcome

• Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona Video
• Shane Burgess, Vice President, University of Arizona Division of Agriculture, Life & Veterinary Sciences & Cooperative Extension Video

Dedication to the Memory and Legacy of Thomas Meixner

Kathleen Meixner and Family Video

Meixner Tri-University Legacy Project

Moderator - Kathy Jacobs, Director, Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions, University of Arizona Video

Student Presentations

• Aniket Gupta, University of Arizona & Abdul Moiz, Arizona State University
  Approach to Data Access, Hydroclimate Modeling and Scenario Development, Progress to Date Video PPT

• Hector Venegas-Quinones, University of Arizona & Ryan Lima, Northern Arizona University
  Alternative Recharge Approaches, Recharge Suitability and Baseflow Assessments Video PPT

• Fern Bromley, University of Arizona & Xin Su, Arizona State University
  Urban and Rural Land Management Options for Enhancing Runoff/Recharge Video PPT

Additional Project Overview

• Neha Gupta, Assistant Research Professor, Arizona Institute for Resilience, University of Arizona & Ryan Lima, Northern Arizona University
  — Integration Efforts and Initial Products of ATUR Project Video PPT

Academic Collaborations

Moderator -  Jamie McEvoy, Associate Professor of Geography, Montana State University Video

Panel

• Rashi Bhushan, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Arizona 
  — Developing a Decision Support Tool for Net Zero Urban Water Systems in the US Southwest: Academic and Utility Collaboration Video PPT
• Luisa Ikner, Assistant Professor, Water & Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center, University of Arizona
  — Building Water Resource Resilience by Strengthening Academic-Water Utility Partnerships Video PPT
• Joaquin Ruiz, Director, Biosphere 2, Vice President for Global Environmental Futures, University of Arizona
  — Status and Progress of the UArizona Committee on the Future of Agriculture and Food Production in a Drying Climate Video

Salt River Project Initiatives

Speakers

• Hannah Hansen, Water Planning Analyst, Salt River Project 
  — Downstream modification of Bartlett Dam Video PPT
• Tice Supplee, Arizona/Southwest Director of Bird Conservation, National Audubon Society
  — Horseshoe Reservoir Habitat Restoration Study Video PPT
• Craig McGinnis, Water Rights Analyst, Salt River Project 
  — Roosevelt Dam Flood Control Space Temporary Operational Flexibility Video PPT
• Caitlin Brogan, Water Conservation Coordinator, Salt River Project
  — Commercial, Industrial & Institutional Water Efficiency Partnerships Video PPT

Journalists' Perspectives

Moderator - Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona Video

Panelists

• Tony Davis, Reporter, Arizona Daily Star Video
• Deb Krol, Indigenous Affairs Reporter, The Arizona Republic Video
• Alex Hager, Reporter, KUNC Video

Day 1 Wrap

Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center

Welcome Back

Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona Video

Partnership Development & Process

Moderator - Thomas Throssell, Assistant Director, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona Video

Panelists

• Linneth Lopez, Environmental Engineering Specialist III & Rhona Mallea, Project Manager, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality  
  — Forging Sustainable Futures: AWP Partnership Framework for Transforming Wastewater into Potable Water in Arizona Video PPT
• Dave Roberts, Former Senior Director of Water Resources, Salt River Project 
  — Achieving Sustainability for the Upper San Pedro River Video PPT
• David Wegner, Scientist & Public Policy Strategist, Woolpert Engineering & NAS, Water Science and Technology Board  
  — Climate Change and Water Availability Video PPT
• Amy Flores, Program Manager, ASU Sustainability Teachers' Academies & Charlie Alcorn Watershed Management Group
  — Storm Smart Schools Video PPT

BREAK (Sponsor Videos)

video

Research & Tool Development 

Moderator - Chris Udall, Executive Director, Agribusiness & Water Council of Arizona Video

Session Speakers

• Joseph "Joey" Blankinship, Associate Professor, Environmental Science Department, University of Arizona
  — The Desert Agriculture Soil Health Initiative (DASHI) Video PPT
• Andrew French, Retired Research Physical Scientist, USDA / ARS Maricopa
  — Quantitative Assessments of Water and Salt Balance for Cropping Systems in the Lower Colorado River Region Video PPT 
• Ethan Orr, Associate Director, Agriculture, Natural Resources & Economic Development, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
  — The University of Arizona On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency program Video PPT 
• Somnath Mondal, Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Arizona State University
  — Assessing the 2023 Hot Droughts in Southwestern North America Video PPT 

Luncheon Program

Acknowledgments - Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona Video

Announcement of Student Poster Award Winners - Ty Morton, Senior Project Manager, HDR Video 

Water User Services & Tools

Moderator - Shaina Shay, Owner and Editor-in-Chief, The Water Report  Video

Session Speakers

• Raluca Mihalcescu, Water Conservation Coordinator, Arizona Water Company 
  — The Success of Sustainability Elevated: an Integrated Demand Management Program Video PPT
• Jing Luo, Vice President/Founder, Apex Applied Technology, Inc
  — A Star Solution to Safe Drinking Water Challenges on Native American Reservations Video PPT
• Season Martin, CEO, Virga Labs
  — Colorado River Basin Post-2026 Operations Exploration Tool Video PPT
• Caitlin Brogan, Water Conservation Coordinator, Salt River Project
  — Conservation Through Collaboration: Landscape Irrigation Efficiency with Waterfluence Video PPT

Financing Solutions

Moderator - Faith Sternlieb, Associate Director of Engagement, Internet of Water, Center for Geospatial Solutions, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy  Video

Panelists

• Chelsea McGuire, Assistant Director, External Affairs, Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona
  — Partnerships in Augmentation Video PPT
• Maya Clifford, Water Resources Manager, Engineer, New Mexico State
  — New Mexico’s Arizona Water Settlements Act Program Video 
• Christian Fauser, Western Water Policy Associate, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Anna Murveit, Southwest Decision Resources    
  — Cross-Watershed Coordination: Reducing Barriers to Accessing Federal Funding to Scale Watershed Restoration Efforts in Arizona Video PPT
• Elijah Tangenberg, Water Resources Specialist, City of Phoenix    
  — Conservation Collaboration: The City of Phoenix Cooling Tower Program’s Public-Private Partnership Video PPT

BREAK (Sponsor Videos)

Video

On the Border

Moderator - Francisco Zamora, Senior Director of Programs, Sonoran Institute Video

Session Speakers

• Martha Gomez Sapiens, Researcher, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona
  — The Binational Effort to Restore the Colorado River Delta PPT
• Roberto Molina, Associate Director West Region, Grants Financing Department, The North American Development Bank
  — Addressing Environmental Challenges on the U.S.-Mexico Border Video PPT
• Elia Tapia, Professor, University of Sonora
  — Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program, Arizona-Sonora Video PPT

Closing Remarks

Sharon B. Megdal, Director, Water Resources Research Center, University of Arizona Video