Project ID: 2003AZ22B

Title: Information Transfer

Project Type: Information Transfer

Focus Categories: Education, Water Supply, Management and Planning

Keywords: WS, M&P, EDU

Start Date: 03/01/2003

End Date: 02/31/2004

Federal Funds: $34199.00

Matching Funds: $ 43399.00

Congressional District: 5th

Principal Investigator: Peter J. Wierenga

Abstract: Funding will primarily support three separate projects at the WRRC. One project is the completion of the Center’s Desert Landscaping compact disk. Desert Landscaping: Plants for a Water-Scarce Environment is a truly useful CD-ROM plant selector covering over 600 low water-use plants. Users can search by plant name, browse award-winning landscapes, compare groups of similar plants, or use the plant selector to precisely describe the plants you seek. The rich multimedia database includes plant size and growth rate, soil and sun requirements, irrigation needs, place of origin, allergens, wildlife interactions, and dozens of other useful factors. Additional information is provided through links to landscaping tips and a bibliography. The original CD-ROM was produced in 1996 and was very popular throughout Arizona. The revised version will operate more quickly and efficiently, have more and newer photos, and provide vastly more information on desert landscaping plants. The second major project for 2003 is the annual statewide water conference sponsored by the WRRC. The first water conference, in the year 2000, examined issues related to the 20th anniversary of the state’s Groundwater Management Act. The 2001 conference focused on the results of the Governor’s Water Management Commission, intended to fundamentally change aspects of Arizona’s water law. The 2003 conference scheduled for May 1 and 2, will be held in Prescott. The conference is tentatively entitled, "Local Approaches to Resolving Water Resource Issues: What's Working, What Hasn't Worked, and Building on Existing Efforts." Conference presentations will include assessments of current state and regional water management strategies and identification of new and emerging management needs and strategies. The WRRC plans to attract speakers and attendees from across the state to foster understanding of the differences as well as the similarities in water resource challenges. The spring event is the latest in a series of conferences sponsored by the WRRC. The intent of the conferences is to provide a forum for various state interests to discuss critical water issues. The WRRC also plans to produce special issues of its newsletter Arroyo (in addition to bi-monthly publication of it regular newsletter, Arizona Water Resource). Topics for these special issues are projected to be “U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Water Issue Challenges for Policymakers” and “Privatization of Water in Arizona”

Progress/Completion Report PDF