Arizona is a beautiful and diverse land of desert, deep canyons, vast forests of ponderosa pine and mixed conifers, in addition to extensive mountain ranges and historic rivers such as the Colorado, Verde and Salt. The “state of the Grand Canyon,” is defined by water. It attracts residents and visitors alike, drawn not only by its spectacular natural beauty but also by winter sunny skies and balmy days. Today there are more people living in Arizona than in all previous human history, and the population continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in the nation. 

Kerry Schwartz, Arizona State Project WET Coordinator and co-author of Arizona Conserve Water Educators’ Guide, writes, “Throughout Arizona’s history the need for careful consideration of water supplies and uses has been central to a culture’s survival.” But with the growing population, escalating number of water users and their needs, sustained drought and the uncertain effects of global climate change, both short and long-term, the people of Arizona have been forced to pay attention in new ways to the state’s water supplies and uses.

Responding to the needs of her state, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano said, “I want Arizona to be the leader in water conservation education.”

Arizona Project WET Coordinator Kerry Schwartz, Statewide Water Conservation Coordinator Marjie Risk, and Water Conservation Field Services Program Manager for the Bureau of Reclamation Lynne Fisher answered the call. They worked with Project Manager and co-author Lissa Howe to produce KIDs: Discover the Waters of Arizona activity booklet in 2005 (distributed to every Arizona fourth grader) and later, the Arizona Conserve Water Educators’ Guide, initiated in 2006 and published in 2007.

Using Project WET’s proven methodology, three writing workshops were conducted throughout the state involving a total of 90 educators, water resource managers and scientists. Based on the original Project WET publication, Conserve Water Educators’ Guide, the Arizona book is divided into four parts: an overview of the state’s geography, water history, water management and conservation; 15 lesson plans (field-tested by Arizona teachers); 10 case studies written as problem-solving exercises for students; and cross-reference charts, glossary and index. The Guide is written specifically for Arizona and to the delight of its teachers, each activity is correlated to the Arizona academic standards. After the May 2007 release, teachers attending Conserve Water educators workshops for the remainder of the year totaled 136.

When asked what she would regard as success in educating Arizona teachers, students and community members about water, Marjie Risk responded, “We believe that education can help individuals develop an understanding of the importance of water and deepen their commitment to conserve it. We hope each person who lives in or visits Arizona will develop a personal culture of conservation—protecting the beauty and diversity that water brings to our unique state.”