Arizona water leaders aren’t the only ones thinking about the state’s limited water supply and how it can be managed to sustain future generations. It’s also a hot topic for many of the state’s student researchers, and CAP wants to reward their efforts.

For many years, CAP has recognized outstanding collegiate research through its Award for Water Research. Submissions for this year’s award are being accepted through June 1, 2020. The first place winner will receive $1,000; and the second place winner will receive $500. Winners will be notified in the fall.

In 2019, the first place honors went to Thomas Whipple for his Master’s thesis titled, “Planning for depletion: optimal irrigation in the Pinal AMA under changing water sources.” 

Second place garnered two winners. Tiffani Cáñez won for her paper, “Mapping fresh and brackish groundwater to inform better management of decreasing groundwater levels in the Wilcox Basin, south-east Arizona.” Shelby Hoglund won for her paper, “Issues and implications for central Arizona agriculture associated with the Colorado River shortage.”

If you know some similarly-minded Arizona undergraduate or graduate students, send them this link to CAP’s Award for Research submission form. Original research submitted for this award should focus specifically on water issues that affect Central and Southern Arizona and the Colorado River. Papers can focus on legal, economic, political, environmental, or water management issues, as well as any other issue that might be of interest to CAP or Arizona water users. Priority will be given to Colorado River issues.

CAP hopes the Award for Research will:

• Encourage and support excellence in water research in Arizona’s colleges and universities
• Reach and encourage college-level students interested in pursuing careers in water resource management Increase public interest in water issues associated with the use of Colorado River in Central and Southern Arizona
• Reinforce CAP’s commitment to water education to hundreds of faculty members and students

For a list of suggested topics, visit the Award for Research. The online entry form can be found Award for Research Form. Questions? Contact Kelli Ramirez.