Access to clean water is essential for all people yet modern governance systems, land-use practices, and climate change seriously threaten the availability of this resource. In recent years, it has also become increasingly acknowledged that disparities in access to clean water are contributing to negative health outcomes and environmental injustice challenges, particularly in tribal communities. Dr. Pool (SU Biology) has been working with Dr. Lefthand-Begay (UW Information School) and the Akiak Native Community in Alaska, creating a community driven co-planning partnership focused on rainwater harvesting to promote tribal water security. The partnership has resulted in a large rainwater harvesting system accessible to the entire Akiak Native Community, despite numerous logistical challenges that have emerged during the past year associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Work with the Akiak Native Community is ongoing and a manuscript detailing the steps taken to respectfully engage in this co-design planning process is currently in peer-review.
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