Phoenix April Chapter Meeting

Join us for a talk with Susan Craig on From Workshops to Impact: A Community-Driven Model for Rural Groundwater Resilience in Arizona. Networking begins at 5:00 pm and the talk will be from 6:00 to 7:00.

Abstract: From Workshops to Impact: A Community-Driven Model for Rural Groundwater Resilience in Arizona

This presentation shares insights from Rural Groundwater Resilience workshops conducted across Arizona, focused on developing locally relevant responses to groundwater challenges. Through engagement with agricultural producers, community leaders, water managers, and residents, these workshops highlight how groundwater depletion, governance gaps, and limited resources are experienced in rural communities.

ASU’s Impact Water – Arizona serves as a neutral convener, leveraging university resources to support collaboration in rural regions of the state, rural regions of the state, largely outside regulated groundwater management areas. Workshops are designed with local partners to bring together community perspectives, technical expertise, and policy considerations to inform place-based strategies. They integrate science, interactive tools, and facilitated discussions to support planning and capacity-building.

The presentation introduces a Workshop-to-Impact model that connects dialogue with action. Key takeaways include approaches to sustainable groundwater management, opportunities to strengthen data-informed decision-making, and strategies for building local capacity and coordination. Attendees will gain practical insights into rural groundwater challenges in Arizona and an adaptable model for designing engagement processes that lead to meaningful, on-the-ground impact.