The Phoenix Chapter of the Arizona Hydrological Society (AHS) 2021 AHS Undergraduate Mentor Scholarship was awarded to Arizona State University student, Hannah Dragon.
As part of the student responsibilities of the mentor scholarships, award winners must submit a short article to the AHS monthly newsletter describing their school experience in 2021, including how COVID-19 influenced their experience. Please take the time to read Hannah’s engaging report.
School Experience of 2021
Submitted by Hannah Dragon
I was very excited when I found out I was accepted into the Arizona Hydrological Society’s Mentorship program. My mentor facilitated meetings with the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Wood, the City of Glendale, and the Salt River Project (SRP). Additionally, I attended a virtual AHS chapter meeting where the presenter discussed watershed hydrology and the effects of irrigation. My goals for these meetings were to learn about the intricacies of field work, the importance of water policy and management, how hydrological field work can help the environment, what water-related problems Arizona is facing currently, and the challenges that Arizona will likely face in the future.
Each of these meetings taught me new information. I learned about groundwater wells and water management through conversations with ADWR, the City of Glendale, ADEQ and SRP. They taught me about the five Active Management Areas in Arizona and what roles they play in monitoring groundwater use. I learned about the Groundwater Act of 1980 and how monumental it was for the state. They also showed me current and historical policies that have been passed in Arizona to plan for droughts and emergencies. It was nice to understand the history involved with water management and water rights in the state. Through ADWR, Wood, and SRP, I was able to get an inside look at how field work looks outside of an academic setting. The ADEQ and SRP also gave me real world advice about the paths I could take after graduation. They encouraged me to consider going into consulting and field work. They said they gained a lot of experience through those types of work and that they had a lot of fun.
Another piece of advice that almost every person I met with gave me was to get the HAZWOPER training through OSHA. My mentor also suggested during our first meeting, and I was able to get certified this summer. The people I met with allowed me to meet all of my goals for this summer. I have been so excited about the information I have learned that after every meeting I would sit and relay all the information to my dad because I was so happy that I knew more information about water in Arizona. I am sure he did not plan on learning hydrological information this summer, but he is now researching and keeping up with the status of Lake Mead.
Unfortunately, I was not able to meet with anyone in person this year because of COVID-19. Everyone continues to meet via Zoom and Microsoft Teams although it may not be the preferred method of communication for some people. I am one of those people. I love meeting new people and would have loved to shake the hands of the people I met with. I think that the content of these meetings was excellent, and each person was very prepared, which is why I would greatly desire to meet them in person when circumstances allow.
Putting the pandemic aside, this was one of the most exciting summers I have had, and it was a great way to start my senior year at Arizona State University. My overall takeaway from this experience was that hydrologists really love their jobs and are eager to teach others about it. In every meeting I had, I could sense the passion and excitement in their voices. They care so much about Arizona and the environment; it is refreshing to hear. This was one of the first times I have been able to talk in-depth about what life looks like outside of academia. I was able to see what a hydrologist really does and that is very exciting for me. I am so grateful that I had this opportunity and I know that the information and advice that was given to me in these meetings will help me as I graduate and start my career.