Water Resources

Climate change, rising populations, evolving social values, urbanization and changing consumption patterns for water present unprecedented challenges as well as opportunities. UArizona is known as “Number 1” in water resources science and policy across the globe.

Our research

Water Scarcity Is About to Get a Lot Worse. Irrigated Agriculture Doesn’t Have a Plan.

Irrigation organizations play a crucial behind-the-scenes role in delivering water to farmers. But only one out of every five has an official strategy for responding to drought.

Groundwater — not ice sheets — is the largest source of water on land and most of it is ancient

Groundwater is used for irrigation and drinking water, but those wells are rarely more than one kilometre deep. A huge volume of salty water exists as much as 10 kilometres below the Earth’s surface.

Rivers speeding up Arctic ice melt at alarming rate, experts say

Understanding the degree of change caused by major rivers delivering freshwater and heat to the Arctic Ocean is important for regulating and managing Arctic commerce and ecosystems as the region opens up to new shipping routes.

The Resurgence of Waffle Gardens Is Helping Indigenous Farmers Grow Food with Less Water

In the face of climate change and persistent droughts, a growing number of people from Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico and elsewhere are adopting the traditional farming practice.

Monsoons that make deserts bloom are becoming more extreme and erratic thanks to climate change

These summer rainfalls have been vital to the U.S. Southwest ecosystem, but their unpredictability is growing.

Harvesting connections: Monitoring rainwater quality in Arizona

Professional forecasters have nothing on this Tucson monsoon watcher

University of Arizona launches program to work with tribes on sustainability

The University of Arizona (UofA) has launched the Indigenous Resilience Center, a new initiative to support national and international Indigenous communities’ abilities to respond to environmental challenges such as climate change, droughts, flooding and pandemics.

The Colorado River Is in Crisis. The Walton Family Is Pushing a Solution.

Walmart heirs have spent heavily to promote their view that water markets are the best way to deal with a dwindling supply.