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

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a Cooperative Agreement totaling $997,136 to Maricopa Stanfield Irrigation and Drainage District (MSIDD) on August 5, 2025, under the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Program (CFDA 15.514) to address critical water scarcity challenges in Pinal County, Arizona. MSIDD will construct Well SRC-3 and associated piping infrastructure to increase water availability by approximately 2,000 acre-feet during water shortage years. This project directly supports Arizona's participation in the Arizona Drought Contingency Plan, a collaborative water management initiative that entitles agricultural water users to augment their water supply with groundwater during shortages. With 45 to 50 percent of MSIDD's agricultural land currently lying fallow due to water scarcity and rising costs, the completed infrastructure will enhance drought resiliency and accelerate access to groundwater rights and storage credits earned through in-lieu activities.

The project is scheduled for completion by December 31, 2026, and represents a strategic investment in long-term water supply reliability for agricultural operations across approximately 82,000 acres managed by MSIDD. This cooperative agreement aligns with the Drought Response Program's core objectives of implementing on-the-ground projects that build drought resilience and improve water management in western water systems affected by prolonged drought conditions.

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-3 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.