News

A recent study led by U of A scientists developed new insights into the atmospheric forces that shape extreme summer weather by examining tree rings. In a study published in the journal AGU Advances, researchers used centuries of tree-ring records to reconstruct the history of jet stream patterns known as “locked” wave5 configurations, which can stall weather systems and trigger heat waves and drought across continents.

On October 8, Elia Tapia, Associate in Extension at the WRRC, joined representatives from Santa Cruz County, the City of Nogales, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), and Arizona State University (ASU) at the Santa Cruz County Complex to review findings from three initiatives addressing water management and flooding challenges in Ambos Nogales.

The primary source of water in La Paz County is surface water (87%), with groundwater making up the remaining supply (13%). Most surface water in La Paz County comes from the Colorado River and its tributaries. Colorado River water is managed by the US Bureau of Reclamation and the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) based on Colorado River entitlements.

Last week, October 8–10, 2025, a delegation from the Colorado River Basin (CRB) traveled to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to participate in a workshop on “Braiding Knowledges in Water & Land: Collaborative Adaptive Management.” WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal and Dr. Karletta Chief (Diné), Director of the Indigenous Resilience Center at the U of A, were among the organizers of the workshop, which included representatives from the CRB, the Bay Delta region of California, Australia, and Canada.

The year 2024 marked the 60th anniversary of US President Lyndon B. Johnson’s signing of the 1964 Water Resources Research Act (WRRA). In celebration of the momentous occasion, UCOWR released a special issue earlier this year (April 2025) of the Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education (JCWRE), which was dedicated to the rich history and wide-ranging impacts of the work of NIWR centers and institutes.

Soon after serving in the role of Graduate Outreach Assistant at the WRRC from August 2013 to June 2014, alongside working toward her PhD, Lucero Radonic joined the faculty at Michigan State University. In 2023, Radonic returned to Arizona, where she now works as an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology and the School of Earth and Sustainability at NAU, and leads the Water, Society, and Policy Lab.

October 1, 2025, marked the first day of the new water year.  In hydrology, a “water year” refers to the 12-month period in which precipitation totals are measured. The new water year starts in October because much of the precipitation that falls in late autumn and winter accumulates as snow and does not melt until the following spring or summer.

Water data producers from different agencies often use inconsistent formats, terminology, and standards, making the data fragmented and incommensurable. Fortunately, the Internet of Water provides a connection for water-related data to increase its interoperability.

This fall semester, the WRRC is hosting a series of webinars that offer water enthusiasts the opportunity to connect virtually with water experts, to ask questions, and to learn about various topics. Visit WRRC's website for detailed info on upcoming events, including co-sponsored events, and remember to save the date for our 2026 Annual Conference, which is set for April 14–15.

Arizona Project WET (APW) is excited to be back in classrooms bringing hands-on groundwater presentations to students! With refreshed and updated materials, we’re helping kids dive into the science of water through interactive activities that spark curiosity and build real-world connections.