Member Resources

The water cycle describes where water is on Earth and how it moves. Water is stored in the atmosphere, on the land surface, and below the ground. It can be a liquid, a solid, or a gas. Liquid water can be fresh or saline (salty). Water moves between the places it is stored. Water moves at large scales, through watersheds, the atmosphere, and below the Earth's surface. Water moves at very small scales too. It is in us, plants, and other organisms. Human activities impact the water cycle, affecting where water is stored, how it moves, and how clean it is.

Objectives:
* Discuss the important human impacts on water quality and availability in the Central Highlands and possible actions/impact humans can take
* Explore opportunities to apply hydrology to your personal areas of interest including potential volunteer opportunities

Objectives:
* Describe the hydrologic cycle
* Identify the major (rivers) and minor watersheds (washes and creeks) -describe different metrics of water quality
* Define source and non-source pollution in water
* Explain the post-colonization timeline of water history in the Central Highlands

The Yavapai County Water Factsheet is now available! As the fifth installment of the WRRC’s Arizona Water Factsheet initiative, this eight-page resource provides wide-ranging examples and essential contextual information to understand water supplies, demands, and management in Yavapai County.

Recognizing the legacy of agriculture and ranching, Yavapai County prepares for continued residential growth and economic expansion including the emerging prominence in Arizona’s wine industry, which plays an important role in local tourism. The factsheet highlights efforts to balance water use that supports human communities and the natural environment, including the perennial flows in the Verde River – a major perennial river in Arizona and the longest stretch of continuous riparian habitat in the state. Along with groundwater overdraft in the Prescott AMA, active collaboration among local governments, engaged environmental organizations, state and federal agencies, businesses, and the public are working to address these challenges.

For Yavapai County, the Technical Advisory Committee was led by Leslie Graser of the City of Prescott and Matthew Halldorson, Yavapai County Cooperative Extension Director. Additional members of the TAC include: Yavapai County Cooperative Extension, City of Cottonwood and The Nature Conservancy, with additional input received from other stakeholders within the county.