The Water, Environmental, and Energy Solutions (WEES) Initiative is supported through the Technology Research Fund which was first authorized in 2000 with the passage of Proposition 301. Each 5-year cycle has had a slightly different organizational structure. Currently, a 6-member Executive team, with expertise in hydrology, engineering, environmental sciences, arid lands, water resources and more, provides oversight on WEES investments.

In 2015, the University of Arizona developed a TRIF plan for the FY17-21 cycle. The plan stated that the mission of WEES is to develop the innovative and practical solutions necessary for water, environmental and energy sustainability in Arizona and other semi-arid regions that are facing increasing demands on natural resources and the uncertainties of climate variability. Human well-being, economic prosperity, security, and life support systems all depend on the environment and the associated resources of water, energy, food, land, air, and biodiversity. Individuals, businesses, communities, and governments are affected by environmental conditions, and in turn, their activities and decisions influence the quality of the environment. TRIF-WEES at UA supports interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations that lead to scientific, technological, and policy-related solutions and innovations that help to close that loop and safeguard both the people and environment of Arizona and beyond.