The University of Arizona’s College of Agriculture has changed its name to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, also to be known by the acronym CALS. The addition of “Life Sciences” reflects the college’s interdisciplinary focus, beyond the conventional understanding of agriculture, to also include areas concerned with natural resources and water-related studies. CALS includes programs in arid lands studies, renewable natural resources, soil, water and environmental sciences and the Water Resources Research Center.

John Thorston resigned as Special Master of Arizona’s general stream adjudication effective June 30. Thorston, who was appointed by the Arizona Supreme Court in 1990, will continue as a part-time special master until the end of 2000. A new full-time master is then expected to be appointed.

Also Judge Susan Bolton, presiding judge for the Gila River adjudication since 1994, has been nominated to the U.S. District Court in Phoenix. Pending Senate confirmation, Bolton would likely assume this new judgeship by the end of 2000. The Arizona Supreme Court would then assign a new judge to the Gila River adjudication.

The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law announced that the George Mason Green and Lois C. Green Foundation has endowed a faculty chair in water and natural resources law.

Gila Bend is receiving a $535,085 federal grant for a new water treatment facility to help the town cope with high levels of fluoride in its water. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is granting $120,000 to the Palo Verde Mountain Community Water Co-op for a new well and storage tank and about $1.3 million in a loan and grant to Somerton to replace water lines.