A Science and Technology Center for the
Sustainability of Water Resources in Semi-Arid Regions

SUMMARY

We propose the formation of a Science and Technology (S&T) Center to study and promote the "Sustainability of Water Resources in Semi-Arid Regions". Population growth has resulted in intense demands on the quantity and quality of water resources worldwide. The sustainability of these water resources in the 21st Century will be critically dependent on our ability to correctly manage water resources systems under a more variable (and possibly warmer) future climate. Semi-arid regions are in particular jeopardy--they are experiencing rates of development that exceed those of other climatic regions and are highly sensitive to increasing anthropogenic pressures, variations in climate, and the disruptions associated with long-term climate change. The development of improved management strategies and viable interventions to meet these challenges will entail unprecedented coordination and integration across a broad range of disciplines, including the natural and social sciences. Although the current system of individual- and multiple-investigator research projects is successful in advancing scientific knowledge and developing improved technologies, there is a critical gap between this research and the tools used by water resources practitioners.

The problem is that there is currently no effective mechanism for rapidly moving the state of scientific knowledge into widespread usage by the public and private agencies responsible for managing our water resources. The proposed S&T Center will provide an effective and efficient bridge across this gap by: i) monitoring the critical hydrologic issues, ii) identifying which issues can be effectively addressed in a timely fashion, iii) coordinating and integrating studies involving many disciplines and institutions, iv) bringing ripening technologies and ideas to an advanced state of development, and v) focusing and committing resources at the appropriate level and in a manner relevant to the development of viable interventions (both technological and educational). The consequent impacts will be felt not only within hydrology and related sciences, but across water resources management in general. While our primary study areas will be in the Southwest to take advantage of ongoing activities and infrastructure, the Center's impact will be extended by testing successful methods in other geographic regions. Through an aggressive and pragmatic approach to education and outreach, building particularly on extensive programs already established at Columbia University Biosphere 2, the Center will better prepare educators, scientists, and decision-makers to meet the challenges of managing limited water resources in the coming century.

We have assembled a unique, multi-disciplinary team for the proposed Center. The Center director and staff will be located at the University of Arizona's top-ranked Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, with participation of university scientists and engineers from New Mexico Tech, Penn State University, the University of California (UCLA, San Diego, and Riverside), Columbia University Biosphere 2, the University of New Mexico, Arizona State University, and three Mexican institutions. Equally important will be the participation of governmental researchers from the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Agricultural Research Service, and the Army Corps of Engineers. By building on the already strong leadership roles of these institutions and the individuals who will participate, the Center will be an influential world leader in the sustainable management of water resources. The funding requested from NSF will be used as seed money to establish an initial infrastructure that can attract additional revenues from other sources for expansion and growth.