Report on the Pascua Yaqui Wellness Center Water Distribution Project

1.0 Project Overview and Initiation

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 12 near Tucson, Arizona, for the Pascua Yaqui Wellness Center Water Distribution Project. This initiative, undertaken by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), involves the installation of a one-mile nonpotable water distribution line. The primary objective is to supply water for the irrigation of recreational and residential areas on Tribal lands, thereby enhancing community infrastructure and promoting sustainable resource management.

2.0 Funding and Strategic Partnerships (SDG 17)

The project is a significant example of a multi-stakeholder partnership, aligning with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Key collaborators include:

• The Pascua Yaqui Tribe
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District
• U.S. Federal Government, represented by U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton
• Pima County and the City of Tucson

Primary funding is provided through the Section 595 Environmental Infrastructure Program, which covers 75% of the project cost with federal investment. This program, expanded to Arizona in 2021 under the 2020 Water Resources Development Act, was established to assist small, rural, and tribal communities in addressing critical water infrastructure needs.

3.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The project’s design and objectives directly contribute to several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The core mission is to improve water management. By substituting nonpotable water for irrigation, the project will conserve approximately 50 acre-feet of potable water annually, directly supporting Target 6.4 to increase water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable withdrawals of freshwater.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The initiative enhances the sustainability and resilience of the Pascua Yaqui community by upgrading essential infrastructure. It provides a reliable water source for community facilities, making the human settlement more inclusive, safe, and sustainable.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action: The Section 595 Program is explicitly designed to address climate-related challenges prevalent in Arizona, such as extreme heat and prolonged drought. This project serves as a direct climate adaptation measure, strengthening resilience to water-related hazards.
4. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: By ensuring a sustainable water supply for the Tribe’s Wellness Center and recreational ballfields, the project supports facilities that are central to community health, physical activity, and overall well-being.

4.0 Projected Outcomes and Community Impact

Upon completion, the Pascua Yaqui Wellness Center Water Distribution Project is expected to deliver the following key outcomes:

• Water Conservation: Preservation of valuable drinking water resources for community consumption by replacing potable water with a nonpotable supply for irrigation purposes.
• Community Wellness Support: Provision of a reliable water source to maintain and enhance the functionality of the Wellness Center and associated recreational areas, promoting a healthy lifestyle.
• Regional Sustainability: Reduction of the strain on the regional potable water supply managed by Tucson Water, contributing to the long-term water conservation goals of both the Tribe and the wider region.
• Environmental Responsibility: Implementation of a sustainable solution that addresses the unique environmental challenges of a desert climate, ensuring the long-term viability of community resources.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The project directly supports community health by providing a reliable water source for the “Pascua Yaqui Wellness Center and ballfields,” ensuring that recreational and health-focused facilities can be sustained, thus promoting physical activity and well-being.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

This is the central theme of the article. The project focuses on building water infrastructure, conserving potable water by using nonpotable water for irrigation, and addressing water scarcity in a desert environment. It highlights sustainable water management for a tribal community.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article discusses making a tribal community’s infrastructure more resilient and sustainable. The project aims to improve the quality of life for the Pascua Yaqui community by ensuring water security and supporting community facilities, which is a core component of creating sustainable communities.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The project is explicitly framed as a response to “climate challenges, including extreme heat, prolonged drought, wildfires and flash flooding.” By building resilient water infrastructure, the community is strengthening its adaptive capacity to the impacts of climate change.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article emphasizes the collaborative nature of the project, which involves the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, a U.S. Congressman, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and mentions cooperation with Pima County and the City of Tucson. This multi-stakeholder partnership is crucial for achieving the project’s goals.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The article connects to this target by stating the project will “Support community wellness by providing a reliable nonpotable water source for the Wellness Center and ballfields, ensuring recreational and health-focused facilities can thrive.”

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The project directly addresses this by planning to “Conserve drinking water by replacing nearly 50 acre-feet of potable water annually with nonpotable water for irrigation,” which increases efficiency and addresses scarcity in a drought-prone region.
• Target 6.b: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management. The project is a partnership with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, with their leadership actively involved and quoted, demonstrating the participation of the local community in managing their own water resources.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters. The project is part of a program that addresses climate challenges like “prolonged drought… and flash flooding,” thereby building infrastructure to mitigate the risks of water-related disasters.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article explicitly states the infrastructure program is designed to address “climate challenges, including extreme heat, prolonged drought.” This project is a direct action to build resilience and adaptive capacity to these specific climate-related hazards.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The project is described as a “true partnership” between the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, funded by a federal program to assist tribal communities. This collaboration is a clear example of an effective public partnership.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

For SDG 6 (Target 6.4)

• Implied Indicator (related to 6.4.1 Water-use efficiency): The article provides a specific, quantifiable metric: “replacing nearly 50 acre-feet of potable water annually with nonpotable water for irrigation.” This volume of conserved water serves as a direct indicator of increased water-use efficiency.

For SDG 3 (Target 3.4)

• Implied Indicator: The sustained operation and use of community facilities. The article states the project will ensure “recreational and health-focused facilities can thrive.” The operational status and community usage rates of the Wellness Center and ballfields can serve as an indicator of progress in promoting community well-being.

For SDG 11 & 13 (Targets 11.5 & 13.1)

• Implied Indicator (related to 11.b.1 and 13.1.2): Financial investment in disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation. The article mentions the creation of the “Arizona Environmental Infrastructure Authority,” a “$250 million fund through the Army Corps” specifically for these types of projects. This financial commitment is an indicator of the implementation of local risk reduction and adaptation strategies.

For SDG 17 (Target 17.17)

• Implied Indicator (related to 17.17.1): The establishment and funding of multi-stakeholder partnerships. The existence of the Section 595 Program and the successful groundbreaking of this collaborative project between tribal, federal, and local entities serve as a qualitative indicator of an effective partnership in action. The “$250 million fund” also acts as a quantitative measure of resources committed to such partnerships.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: army.mil