Tucson Chapter

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Meetings & Events

If you would like to present at a future chapter meeting, contact us at [email protected]. Note that we can no longer issue refunds for cancellations; in addition, you must pay in advance — we cannot take payments at the door or invoice you after an event.

Join the Tucson chapter for a talk by Tucson Water hydrologist Joe Cain on the trials and tribulations of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) at the Heritage project site in downtown Tucson.

November 2024 Chapter Meeting

• Date: November 12, 2024
• Time: 6:00–7:30 PM (networking and snacks start at 6, talk at 6:30)
• Place: Montgomery & Associates, 1550 E Prince Rd, Tucson
• Cost, in person: $5 for AHS members / $10 for nonmembers / free for student members
• Cost, Zoom: Free for AHS members (regular and student) / $10 for regular nonmembers / $5 for student nonmembers); note that you will receive the Zoom link once you register

Register Online

Register for our December 16 holiday party here »

All attendees must register in advance. We will turn away walk-ins! This applies to professionals and to students who are attending for free. We need to know the number of attendees in advance so we can plan accordingly. Likewise, if you sign up but later find that you cannot attend, please let us know so we can open up your spot for someone else. Please respect these ground rules… and register early to ensure that you reserve your spot.

Abstract: Five Years of MAR in a Desert Ecosystem from the Perspective of a POC Well

The Santa Cruz River Heritage Project is the most recent MAR project in Tucson Water’s decades-long water reuse program. In July 2019, Tucson Water completed permitting, design, and construction activities, and began discharging grade A+ reclaimed effluent water into the Santa Cruz River near the base of Sentinel Peak (A Mountain). Project goals include:

• Establishing a flowing stream through downtown Tucson
• Re-establishing the riparian habitat at the base of Sentinel Peak, which is considered the “birthplace of Tucson”
• Earning recharge credits using an Underground Storage Facility permit to offset pumping from the Tucson municipal wellfield

The discharge was predicated on understanding the proximity of sites of concern and preparing for eventualities if those sites were jeopardized. Five years later, the project has established and maintains a vibrant riparian habitat teeming with endangered fish and endemic species while flows and recharge credit accruals diminished to avoid potential negative impacts. This talk focuses on the history of the project, where it stands currently, and pathways forward to meet the stated goals.

Speaker: Joe Cain, Hydrologist / Project Manager, City of Tucson Source Water Division

Joe Cain is a geologist with a diverse background of geoscience skills developed over 20+ years as an exploration and resource geologist, GIS specialist, geophysicist, and river guide. He received his M.S. in geology from the University of California, Davis, in 2006, and holds B.S. degrees in both geology and environmental science from NAU. He currently manages several projects in the Santa Cruz River including Tucson Water’s Downtown Heritage Project, where he coordinates hydrologic and other scientific studies, regulatory requirements, public outreach, intergovernmental communications, and channel maintenance programs. When Joe is not in the field you can look for him in the back country either mountain biking, rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, or hiking (or a combination of those!).  He is typically accompanied on these adventures by his rock-star geologist wife and an assortment of border collies.

Chapter Officers & Board Members

Chapter News

• Tucson Chapter Holiday Bash to Be Held at the Botanical GardensSeptember 27, 2024
  This year’s annual holiday party will be held at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Join AHS Tucson for a special evening at the Tucson Botanical Gardens on Monday, December. Enjoy the festive atmosphere among garden paths and local desert flora, celebrating…
• Congratulations to Our 2024 Halpenny Intern Scholar, Samuel Booker!April 24, 2024
  The Tucson chapter is pleased to announce that it has selected the Leonard Halpenny Inter Scholar for 2024. Samuel Booker is a junior pursuing a degree in hydrology and water resources at the UA. He is looking forward to working…
• Order Your AHS Beer MugJuly 27, 2023
  Now’s your chance to grab one or more AHS mason jar beer mugs. If you order by September 4, you can pick your mug up at the 2023 AHS Symposium. If you’re not planning to attend the symposium, you can…
• 2023 Halpenny Scholar AnnouncedJuly 14, 2023
  The Tucson chapter has selected this year’s Halpenny Intern Scholar: Natalie Yurek. Natalie is a rising junior in the UA’s Hydrology and Atmospheric Science (HAS) program. She is interested in exploring the interplay between Earth, atmosphere, and water systems by…
• Mission Garden Tour RecapFebruary 24, 2023
  On February 18, a group of folks from the Tucson chapter joined Chuck Graf, our 2018 AHS Lifetime Achievement Award winner, for a tour of Mission Garden and surrounding areas. Mission Garden was originally part of, and served, the village…
• Purchase your AHS Mason Jar MugsJanuary 9, 2023
  Order now and pick your mug up at a Tucson chapter meeting. If you belong to the Flagstaff or Phoenix chapters, order by February 3rd and we’ll have them available for your chapter president to give you at your next…