Maricopa stanfield irrigation and drainage district (msidd), located in pinal county, arizona faces an existential water shortage amidst a 20-year drought

The Maricopa Stanfield Irrigation and Drainage District (MSIDD) in Pinal County, Arizona was awarded a $1,115,297 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation under the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief program (CFDA 15.514). The funding will enable MSIDD to construct Well SRC-2 and associated piping and appurtenances to increase water availability by approximately 2,000 acre-feet during water shortage years. This project is designed to enhance MSIDD's drought resiliency and accelerate access to its groundwater rights and storage credits earned through in-lieu activities, supporting the goals of the Arizona Drought Contingency Plan (AZ DCP). The award has a performance period from February 14, 2025 to December 31, 2026.

Msidd is a partner of the arizona drought contingency plan (AZ DCP), a collaborative effort for water management and conservation. The AZ DCP includes an AG mitigation agreement whereby agricultural water users are entitled to augment their water portfolio with groundwater supplies during water shortages. Due to water scarcity and rising water costs, 45 to 50 percent of msidd s agricultural land lies fallow. As a result, msidd will construct well SRC-2 and the associated piping and appurtenances to increase water availability by approximately 2,000 acre-feet in water shortage years. This project will increase msidds drought resiliency and accelerate access to msidds groundwater rights and storage credits earned through in-lieu activities.