Reflections

A commentary series, Reflections, by Director Sharon B. Megdal is replacing her previous Public Policy Review. Beginning with the March-April 2002 issue of the Arizona Water Resource newsletter, through its final issue in Fall 2018, Director Sharon B. Megdal penned 76 public policy columns focusing on a wide range of water topics. Reflections will be published several times a year through the Weekly Wave and they will appear on this page.

A complete collection of Dr. Megdal’s AWR columns, many of which remain relevant today, is accessible for viewing or download.

Sweetwater Wetlands. Photo: Sharon B. Megdal

(L to R) Aana Edmondson, Camille Calimlim Touton, Lorelei Cloud, Daryl Vigil, Sharon Megdal, Michelle Brown-Yazzie, Erina Watene, Leslie ”Phil” Duncan

Reflections: Respect, Responsibility, Reciprocity, and Relationship

I recently returned from attending Stockholm World Water Week (WWW), the annual international water conference organized by the Stockholm International Water…

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Conference Panel on Adapting Policy

Reflections: On Annual Conference Key Themes – and Questions About 2024

The WRRC’s 2023 Annual Conference, held in mid-July, tackled this key question: What can we do to address Arizona’s water challenges? We developed the agenda…

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reflections busy spring banner

Reflections: On a Busy Spring

It is July, more than three months since my last Reflections, which was written from the UN Water Conference on World Water Day. The reason for the gap: an…

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sharon megdal at UN water conference

Reflections: Today Is World Water Day!

Greetings from New York City and Happy World Water Day! Today is the official start of the UN 2023 Water Conference, the first water conference convened by the…

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Sweetwater Wetlands. Photo: Sharon B. Megdal

Reflections: A Cloudy Day at Sweetwater Wetlands

Graduate students in my “Water Policy in Arizona and Semi-arid Regions” class visited the Sweetwater Wetlands on Saturday, February 11, 2023. We were joined…

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Seine River, Paris

Reflections: Thoughts at the Start of 2023 About Pathways to Water Solutions

As reflected in past essays, I consider it useful to think about our serious water challenges as wicked problems. Wicked problems are complex, and addressing th…

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Solomon’s Pillars, Timna Park, Israel

Reflections: Partnering to Address Food, Water, and Energy Security

The Colorado River Basin’s water and energy problems are well chronicled in studies and news reports. With the Colorado River’s low flows extending more than tw…

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Illustration: Radhika Gupta

Reflections: Connecting Globally at Stockholm World Water Week

Stockholm World Water Week (WWW) is a highly regarded international conference, well known for bringing together diverse water experts from different parts of t…

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Aerial view of the Colorado River, near Parshall, Colorado

Reflections: The Colorado River Is Not Waiting

The week of August 15 was full of news about the Colorado River. As announced by US Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton in mid-June, Mond…

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field with crops

Reflections: On Key Themes from the WRRC's 20th Annual Conference

The Water Resources Research Center’s annual conference, Arizona’s Agricultural Outlook: Water, Climate, and Sustainability, was held July 12–14, 2022. Thi…

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Field trip to sweetwater wetlands

Reflections: Energized by Highly Engaged Students

This Spring Semester I once again taught my graduate class, Water Policy in Arizona and Semi-arid Regions. Like last year, I had a good-sized seminar class, wit…

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World Water Day 2022

Reflections: Commemorating World Water Day 2022, Part II

In Part I of this two-part Reflections, I discussed how World Water Day is celebrated each year on March 22. The 2022 World Water Development Report (WWDR)…

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World Water Day 2022

Reflections: Commemorating World Water Day 2022, Part I

On World Water Day, 2019, I published my first Reflections essay. The United Nations established March 22 as World Water Day in 1993 to raise awareness of globa…

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banner featuring sharon

Reflections: Looking Back 20 Years and a Call to Action

February 14 is an important date for me – and not only because it is Valentine’s Day and Arizona Statehood Day. February 14 is also the anniversary date of my j…

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aerial view of a suburb

Reflections: On Connecting Land Planning and Water Planning

Land planners and water planners often work in separate silos. Though all recognize that different land uses have different water requirements, land use decisio…

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