With Arizona's long-term drought and climate change making fires more intense, Arizona State University and Salt River Project are teaming up for a new research project when it comes to forest thinning and the water supply says Enrique Vivoni.

He points out the sustainability work of Claire Lauer, a professor of technical communication and co-director of the master’s program in user experience in the School of Applied Professional Studies at ASU’s Polytechnic campus. She received a $2 million National Science Foundation grant to create a mechanism to educate the public about water usage.

“Everybody keeps saying that water is bipartisan, and in fact it's not. It's not anymore, let's put it that way. It used to be. You could say that back in 1980, when we passed the Groundwater Management Act, but you can't say that anymore,” Kathleen Ferris said.

“The past few years have taught not only the Navajo Nation and other tribal communities but the state, and I think all across the United States and the globe, the high price of not having access to clean water,” said Cora Tso.

“Arizona is at a crossroads in terms of our water supply portfolio. Applied innovation projects, such as this effort in forest health and water resilience, translate research into actions for the benefit of our renewable water supplies. Not only does our work with SRP set the stage for regional impacts, but it is also a successful model for how universities can collaborate effectively with water agencies and utilities,” Enrique Vivoni said.

“Of course, we have heard about the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and San Juan Southern Paiute proposed settlement and hope that will be settled here within the next year or so,” said Cora Tso, who is Navajo, and a senior research fellow at Arizona State University’s Kyl Center for Water Policy. 

Farmer Ed Curry, who developed various strains of chili peppers whose seeds are used by 90% of the peppers growing industry, said in the video, “It was fun to watch the neighbors who were pitted against each other come together. I’m honored to be a part of the solution rather than be a part of the problem.”

Diaz-Infante is also a researcher with the Arizona Water for All (AW4A) team, one of several pillars under the new statewide Arizona Water Innovation Initiative. As part of the AW4A team, he works under the leadership of President’s Professor Amber Wutich to collect data and do fieldwork with other scientists, legal scholars and community organizations who have ties to colonias communities. 

In total, the federal government, Mexico, seven states and 29 sovereign tribes are involved in negotiating how to operate the Colorado River system, Sarah Porter explained.

“My work really is dedicated to understanding some of the darkest parts of the human experience,” Amber Wutich said. “More recently, I have started to go back in history and look at how humans have faced moments of extreme climate distress. There is suffering, yes. There is death. But it’s also true that humans have historically faced these challenges with enormous innovation and transformations in our society. I’m hopeful that if we really do invest in social infrastructure, which is what gives rise to human innovation and ingenuity, great things could happen for humanity.”