NIWR Director Testifies Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations

On Wednesday, March 18, Dr. Sharon B. Megdal, Director of the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. As President of the National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR), Dr. Megdal spoke on behalf of that organization in support of the Water Resources Research Act (WRRA) program. Administered by the U.S. Geological Survey under the general guidance of the Secretary of the Interior, the WRRA program established the water resources research institutes in U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia. Institutes are charged with undertaking water research to solve local, regional, and national water issues, training new water professionals, transferring technology, and disseminating information. Dr. Megdal’s testimony highlighted the recent achievements of the water resources research institutes and emphasized the importance of their role in addressing the Nation’s water resources issues. She also stressed the importance of continued federal support of the Water Resources Research Institute program in understanding and resolving local, regional, and national water problems. You can read her fulll testimony here.
Dr. Megdal assumed the NIWR presidency on October 1, 2014 and will hold the position until September 30, 2015. Dr. John Lenhart from the Ohio Water Resources Center serves on the NIWR Board as a representative of the Great Lakes region.