In May, the Udall Center released a report summarizing its public outreach work in the Upper San Pedro River Basin, in Sonora, Mexico, and in Arizona. This report, "Views from the Upper San Pedro River Basin: Local Perspectives of Water Issues," presents a preliminary assessment of public perspectives on water management, policy, and research in the basin, based on interviews, surveys, and public meetings conducted between April 1998 and December 2000. The overall goal of the Udall Center's work in this region is to facilitate information exchange and collaboration on water policy in the basin. The assessment was made possible with funding from the Ford Foundation, the Morris K. Udall Foundation, and the National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center, Sustainability of semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRA). Its purpose is to indicate the views of those who live, work, and conduct research in the basin.

Working with local governments, federal agencies and interested citizens, Udall Center staff began by assessing basin residents' views on water issues of concern, preferred water policy options, and sources of water-related information. The Center then compiled the results of its ongoing outreach related to water issues and water policy on the U.S. side of the basin. The section of the report summarizing Mexican residents' views is significant, because it represents the first time many of the Mexican residents of the basin have been asked to share their opinions on water issues. In all, approximately 300 Mexicans and over 500 U.S. residents provided input to this report.

To identify the hydrologic information necessary to develop water policy options, the Udall Center interviewed individuals on both sides of the border with extensive experience or expertise in water research, water policy, or water management. The report provides a basis for directing future research in the basin.

To request a copy of this publication, contact Jen McCormack at <jenmack@email.arizona.edu> or at (520) 884-4393.