WRRC 2026 Annual Conference: Water for Tech, Mining & Energy: Pathways to Arizona's Future

Thank you to the wonderful speakers, sponsors, students, volunteers, and everyone else who made our WRRC 2026 Annual Conference possible! We couldn’t have done it without your help. 

On April 14 and 15, hundreds of people joined us both in person and on Zoom for two days of engaging programming. The theme of this year’s conference, Water for Tech, Mining & Energy: Pathways to Arizona's Future, focused on the challenges and opportunities for water stewardship in Arizona’s industrial sectors for mining, energy, and technology. Discussions covered innovative strategies, best practices, regulatory frameworks, municipal-industrial partnerships, and environmental considerations.

The program included insightful keynote talks from ASU Professor & Senior Global Futures Scientist Upmanu Lall, U of A Senior Vice President for Research and Partnerships Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, Avant Energy Inc. Managing Director of Native American Energy John Lewis, and Woolpert Engineering Senior Strategic Consultant Dave Wegner. Other sessions, panels, and presentations included sector “101” introductions to the topics of energy, mining, and tech; planning for large industrial water use; audience reflections; environmental and community perspectives; impacts, strategies, and stewardship; collaboration case studies; and insights on community engagement and planning that works. Other highlights included an opening blessing on Day 1 from Chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation’s San Xavier District Austin Nuñez, an evening of food and fun at the networking reception at Cork & Craft, a welcome on Day 2 from U of A President Suresh Garimella, and a video message from Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs on “Arizona Water: Accomplishments and Updates.” Thank you to everyone who participated for another great conference!