A pioneering water modelling project led by the Yavapai-Apache Nation and conservation organisation The Nature Conservancy (TNC) will protect water resources in the Verde River Basin, Arizona for generations to come.

The Verde River is a vital watershed in Arizona, US, but it faces pressure from competing water demands and potential development - prompting conservation efforts to protect it for the people, wildlife, and vegetation that depend on it.

The integrated hydrologic model combines climate, groundwater, and surface water data. It allows decision-makers to visualise the potential impacts of various water stressors, such as increased heat and reduced rainfall - providing critical insights for future water management strategies in the Verde River Basin.

The core objective of the project was to create a widely accepted, scientifically robust tool that could inform crucial water management decisions. Over a year, stakeholders, including municipalities, agencies, tribes, and non-profits, participated in workshops to learn about the model, design scenarios and discuss results.

A key focus emerged: improving stormwater management. Rather than allowing runoff to become a destructive force, stakeholders explored strategies to slow and spread water, promoting groundwater recharge and restoring river flows.

"This modelling project is a big step forward for water management in the Verde Valley and beyond," said Kimberly Schonek, the water programme director for TNC. "The success of our collaborative approach, built on long-term partnerships, can serve as an example for other communities looking to improve their own water management plans."

"This [model] has been invaluable in developing the Yavapai-Apache Nation's water settlement, and it will continue to play an important role in the Nation’s water management in the future," added chairwoman Tanya Lewis, Yavapai-Apache Nation.

The river is critically important to the Yavapai-Apache Nation, which is located in the Verde Valley of Arizona and comprises five tribal communities: Tunlii, Middle Verde, Rimrock, Camp Verde and Clarkdale. On June 26, 2024, the Yavapai-Apache Nation secured a historic milestone - the Water Rights Settlement Agreement - that secures the Nation's water future, protects the Verde River and local groundwater supplies and provides sustainable water supplies from outside the Verde Valley to the Reservation.

The partnership between the Yavapai-Apache Nation and The Nature Conservancy serves as a successful example of collaborative water management that can be replicated by other communities, with the model providing valuable insights for managing water resources under changing conditions.