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In addition to its on-going education programs, the SDWI is actively pursuing its goal of developing a permanent facility in the Tucson-metro area. It has developed extensive business plans and cost estimates for the project. An economic feasibility study of the project has been completed. Preliminary plans for a facility, including exhibits have been developed. A design/build/operate team has been put together, made up of companies with prior experience in successful aquaria in other parts of the United States. Además de su actual programa de educación, el Acuario del Mar de Sonora continúa activamente con su meta de desarrollar una facilidad permanente en el área-metro de Tucson. Se han desarrollado los planes de trabajo de la empresa y estudios de presupuesto extensos para el proyecto. Un estudio económico de la viabilidad del proyecto se ha completado. Se han desarrollado los planes preliminares para la facilidad, incluyendo las exhibiciones. Se ha organizado un equipo de diseño/construcción/operación, compuesto por compañías con experiencia en acuarios exitosos en otras partes de los Estados Unidos.
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Design &
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Annual Report
Sonoran Desert Waters Institute In May 2008 the Sonoran Sea Aquarium Board of Directors voted to change the organization's name to the Sonoran Desert Waters Institute (SDWI). The mission has remained the same and the new name better identifies with that mission. The mission of the SDWI is to tell the story of the life-giving circle formed by water as its moves from Arizona’s rivers to the Gulf of California. This is a story of rich aquatic life, often only found in this unique region; of people and animals, past and present, who depend on these waters to survive and grow in the Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran Desert Waters Institute is dedicated to education as the key element in preserving the animals and a way of life that are only found in the Desert Southwest and the Gulf of California. During 2008 Director of Education and Outreach, Franklin Lane focused on cost effective delivery of our education and outreach programs. He developed a part time paid workforce that is paid by the class. Our two primary paid part time workers were also our two most dedicated volunteers: Annette Felix and Cathy Franklin. During the past year the SDWI has received significant in-kind donations. Particularly meaningful is the office space provided at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. We also received exhibit materials. Additional in-kind donations centered around the concept of working with the ASDM to help remodel some of their existing 'fish' spaces into the Arizona Rivers to the Gulf of California story line. Professional services of surveying, drafting and architecture were donated toward that project. 2008 was also filled with financial challenges as the effects of the state budget issues were felt in K-12 education. The second half of 2008 had very little outreach to public schools because of school district funding cuts for such items. Foundation and donor funding has also slowed. Following are highlights of the SDWI Education and Outreach Program’s accomplishments during 2008:
2009 will continue to be fraught with financial challenges brought on by the overall condition of the US economy. However, 2009 will hopefully see the culmination of a dream and the creation of a small facility at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum that will tell a small piece of the story of water in the Sonoran Desert -- the story of Arizona's Rivers to the Sea of Cortez. We need to help bring greater knowledge about our environment to the children of southern Arizona. They are our future!
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