Pinal County, AZ (May 20, 2025) – Maricopa-Stanfield Irrigation and Drainage District (MSIDD) is pursuing funding to improve agricultural water availability and management. The purpose of the project is to increase irrigation water supply for farms located within the MSIDD service area. The project is needed to reduce irrigation water shortages and associated crop damages resulting from the reduction and loss of Colorado River surface water supplies delivered to MSIDD through the Central Arizona Project. The project is sponsored by MSIDD, with funding and technical support from the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Arizona.
Members of the public are invited to provide input to help guide planning efforts during an in-person scoping meeting on June 10, 2025 from 10:30-11:30am at the Maricopa Library & Cultural Center. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about the proposed project and submit their comments, ideas, and concerns. A recording of the meeting and the presentation slides will be available on this website after the meeting.
Public comments may be submitted from May 20, 2025 through June 25, 2025. Comments may be submitted the following ways:
Following the public scoping period, project partners will develop a Draft Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA). The public will have an opportunity to review the Draft Plan-EA and provide additional input.
Once complete, the Plan-EA will enable MSIDD to apply for project construction funding through the NRCS Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention program, authorized by Public Law 83-566. Through this program, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to local organizations (project sponsors) for planning and carrying out watershed projects that help solve natural resource and related economic problems in a specific watershed. These issues can include watershed protection, flood prevention, erosion and sediment control, water supply, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, and wetlands creation.
Visit FCA for more information about irrigation modernization.