Arizona WET, Grades 9-12 Curriculum on Nonpoint Source Water Pollution
The University of Arizona's Water Resources Research Center has completed an Arizona-specific water quality curriculum for high school students. Funded by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the curriculum consists of three books, an envelope of pamphlets, and WRRC's Arizona Water Map. The curriculum is designed as a 4-6 week unit. Its hands-on activities and portions of the student reading material also can be used separately to supplement an existing high school science curriculum.

Book 1 consists of the Water Resources and Nonpoint Source Water Pollution (student reading), a glossary and student reading questions. Book 2 includes the curriculum overview and teacher information, a demonstration, laboratory, classroom and field activities, fact sheets, an answer key to the student reading questions, and a resource list. Book 3 contains Starnet articles: Arizona cases of nonpoint source water pollution, supplemental water quality studies and other information, and excerpts from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality 1996 Water Quality Assessment.

For information on the curriculum's distribution, send a post card with name and address to Education Coordinator, Water Resources Research Center, The University of Arizona, 350 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721. Your name will be added to the WRRC's Arizona WET (Water Education for Teachers) mailing list.

Care of Desert-Adapted Plants
Della C. Fletcher and Patricia H. Waterfall

Low-water use is an essential characteristic of plants suitable for desert landscaping. This booklet provides a range of information about such plants, including what to look for when making a selection from a nursery, planting techniques, pruning, mulches and insect/disease control. The publication was made possible through a grant provided by Tucson Water to the University of Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension's Low 4 Program. For more information about obtaining a copy, contact Patsy Waterfall, Low 4 Program, University of Arizona, 350 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ, 85721; 520-622-7701; fax: 520-792-8518; email: patwater@ag.arizona.edu

Preliminary Estimates of Waters Use in the United States, 1995
Estimates indicate that U.S. water use decreased from 1980 to 1995 despite continued population increase during the same period. The estimated 400 billion gallons of fresh and saline water withdrawn per day during 1995 for all offstream uses is 2 percent less than estimated use in 1990 and 10 percent less than in 1980 when water use seems to have peaked, since U.S. Geological Survey five-year compilations began in 1950. The report presents estimates of water withdrawn from surface and groundwater sources for various water use categories prepared by state. Copies can be purchased from U.S.G.S. Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225.

Water Resource Data Arizona Water Year 1997
S. Tadayon, N.R. Duet, G.G. Fisk, H.F. McCormack, G.L. Pope and P.D. Rigas

Prepared in cooperation with the state of Arizona and other agencies, this U.S. Geological Survey report includes a compilation of surface-water, chemical-quality, and groundwater data. The report contains discharge records for 192 gaging stations, annual peaks for 19 crest-stage partial-record stations; contents only records for eight lakes and reservoirs; stage and contents for one lake; elevation only for one streamflow station; 20 supplementary records, included with gaging-stations records, consisting of month end or monthly stage; contents and evaporation of lakes and reservoirs, diversions, and return flows; water-quality records for 27 continuous record stations; and water quality data for water from 286 wells. The report may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161. Copies are available for examination at U.S.G.S. offices in Tucson, Tempe, Flagstaff and Yuma.

The following two publications discuss extreme climate conditions in the West — floods and drought.

An Action Plan for Reducing Flood Risk in the West Western Governors' AssociationIn response to costly and hazardous flood events, the Western Governors' Association released An Action Plan for Reducing Flood Risk in the West. Containing 25 recommendations for achieving safer communities, the report calls for gubernatorial leadership, including organizing public/private summits to focus on ways to reduce risk; establishing a cabinet-level office to develop and implement state plans to reduce flood risk; and issuing executive orders or using other means to support the National Flood Insurance Program and flood mitigation in general. Copies of the plan can be obtained from Bruce Flinn, Western Governors' Association, 600 17th Street, Suite 1705, South Tower, Denver, Colorado 80202; 303-623-9378; fax: 303-534-7309; web site: http://www.westgov.org

Improving Drought Management in the West: The Role of Mitigation and Preparedness
Donald Wilhite

This report to the Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission summarizes drought and drought management issues in the West. The status of drought planning efforts is reviewed, and the range of options available and the mitigative actions employed by states is analyzed. Also several recent drought studies are reviewed. The author provides conclusions and recommendations, including the need for government agencies to be more proactive in dealing with this threat. $21.50 paper and $10 microfiche from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161; 800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000; fax 703-321-8547; email: orders@ntis.fedworld. gov; web stie: http://www.ntis.gov