March 05, 2021
Weekly Wave
,
9 vol.
,
no. 9
,
Water Resources Research Center
,
Tucson, AZ
On March 5, the WRRC released its 2021 Arroyo, “Arizona Groundwater Management – Past, Present and Future.” Taking its inspiration from the WRRC’s 2020 Annual Conference, “Water at the Crossroads: The Next 40 Years,” this Arroyo covers the history of the 1980 Arizona Groundwater Management Act (GMA) and the mechanisms through which the act is making groundwater use in Arizona more sustainable. The passage of the 1980 GMA represented a major change in Arizona’s attitudes toward sustainable groundwater management. Today, groundwater use in most of the populous regions of Arizona is monitored and regulated to preserve a dependable water supply for generations to come, but significant challenges remain. The 2021 Arroyo provides background context and examines some of Arizona’s remaining and emerging water issues affecting groundwater management. Among these are meeting the needs of communities outside the GMA’s Active Management Areas and responding to likely Colorado River shortages without returning to groundwater overdraft. The Arroyo examines the role of Arizona’s Native Nations and the challenges to Arizona’s natural environment. It goes on to explore some innovative solutions that policymakers, managers, and stakeholders are developing to address these issues. A PDF of the new Arroyo can be downloaded free from the WRRC website. Print copies are available by special request. Join us on March 8 for a Brown Bag webinar highlighting key sections of the Arroyo.