Arizona Water Supply the Focus of UA Conference

Tucson AZ (March 25, 2014) – By the year 2060, water demand in Arizona may exceed renewable supplies by a margin that could grow to 1 million acre-feet. The University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) will take on this issue at its April 8 Annual Conference, “Closing the Gap Between Water Supply and Demand,” at the UA Student Union Memorial Center.

How can Arizona ensure a safe, reliable water supply, now and in the future? The WRRC Conference, organized in partnership with the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), will explore our state’s options for meeting water needs, including water supply sustainability, conservation, reuse and recycling, tribal water, policy options and more.

Conference Highlights:

• ADWR’s Strategic Vision for Arizona Water Supply Sustainability. Opening keynote speaker Michael Lacey will address ADWR’s recently released Strategic Vision for securing future water supplies in Arizona.
• Water demand in Basin States threatens to exceed supply. The Colorado River Basin Study recently found that water demand in Basin States is expected to exceed supply by some 3.2 million acre-feet by the year 2060 if no action is taken. Keynote speaker Kay Brothers will address the findings of the Study’s Next Steps Working Group, tasked with identifying possible solutions.
• Innovative management can help Arizona be drought resistant. Expert panelists will examine Arizona’s water management challenges, and discuss possible solutions.
• Water issues affect us all. Solutions to water challenges must consider a wide array of stakeholders, including agriculture, tribes, municipalities, nature, industry and many others. These perspectives and others will be represented in the panel sessions at the WRRC conference.

Everyone with an interest in Arizona’s water future is encouraged to attend and join the discussion. Explore the full agenda here: wrrc.arizona.edu/conference/agenda. The WRRC Conference runs from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on April 8 at the UA Student Union Memorial Center. Online registration is open through April 2.

The University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), a unit within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, promotes understanding of critical state and regional water management and policy issues through research, education and outreach. For more information, visit us at wrrc.arizona.edu.