Benefits to Our Community
The Cortaro-Marana Irrigation District (CMID) has protected the water rights of the Cortaro-Marana community for more than 100 years. Our commitment to preserve these water rights assures our water supply for current and future development.
CMID/CWUA is the facility operator of a groundwater savings facility in the Tucson Active Management Area. The District can store up to 20,000 ac-ft/year of "in lieu" CAP and/or effluent water, there by conserving valuable groundwater supplies. The District partners with other providers to store a portion of their annual recharge water, providing significant savings to these providers who are required to meet the Arizona Department of Water Resources’ (ADWR) annual requirements.
CMID/CWUA is the facility operator of a groundwater savings facility in the Tucson Active Management Area. The District can store up to 20,000 ac-ft/year of "in lieu" CAP and/or effluent water, there by conserving valuable groundwater supplies. The District partners with other providers to store a portion of their annual recharge water, providing significant savings to these providers who are required to meet the Arizona Department of Water Resources’ (ADWR) annual requirements.
The Environment and Our Community
Cortaro-Marana Irrigation District also helps provide suitable habitat for a variety of species, including small mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and insects.
Crops grown in the District have a local and global impact. In fact, Arizona is one of the country’s leading producers of cotton, which is shipped around the world for textile and other uses.
Other crops, including alfalfa, wheat, barley, sorghum, hay and pumpkins make their way into the local community and around the world.
In addition to the agricultural impact of the Cortaro-Marana Irrigation District, our farmers buy local products, services and equipment to maintain their farming activity. Farming operations provide vital employment within the local community and have a significant, positive impact on the area’s economy.
Crops grown in the District have a local and global impact. In fact, Arizona is one of the country’s leading producers of cotton, which is shipped around the world for textile and other uses.
Other crops, including alfalfa, wheat, barley, sorghum, hay and pumpkins make their way into the local community and around the world.
In addition to the agricultural impact of the Cortaro-Marana Irrigation District, our farmers buy local products, services and equipment to maintain their farming activity. Farming operations provide vital employment within the local community and have a significant, positive impact on the area’s economy.
Water Conservation
The growers and the District utilize a series of progressive farm management practices, which guide water use and ensure effective conservation. The District continues to invest in facilities and equipment, in order to optimize water delivery and provide other benefits that improve the quality of life in our community.
We commit to water conservation in a variety of ways:
• Permanent canals are concrete-lined or underground to prevent erosion and evaporation and ensure more accurate delivery flows.
• Agricultural fields are laser-leveled to ensure consistent slope, accurate flow and minimize waste.
• To the extent feasible, all tail water is re-used within the District, ensuring that every last drop of water we use is put back into our system.
• Our growers angle crop rows to ensure maximum infiltration rates.
• Farmers rotate annual crops to promote more balanced soil chemistry.
• Central Arizona Project (CAP) water is recharged over District lands, with the water being stored underground for future use.
• Cortaro-Marana Irrigation District also uses treated effluent produced within the community and treated by Pima County.
We commit to water conservation in a variety of ways:
• Permanent canals are concrete-lined or underground to prevent erosion and evaporation and ensure more accurate delivery flows.
• Agricultural fields are laser-leveled to ensure consistent slope, accurate flow and minimize waste.
• To the extent feasible, all tail water is re-used within the District, ensuring that every last drop of water we use is put back into our system.
• Our growers angle crop rows to ensure maximum infiltration rates.
• Farmers rotate annual crops to promote more balanced soil chemistry.
• Central Arizona Project (CAP) water is recharged over District lands, with the water being stored underground for future use.
• Cortaro-Marana Irrigation District also uses treated effluent produced within the community and treated by Pima County.
Stewardship
The Cortaro-Marana Irrigation District is vigilant when it comes to water use. We maintain strict guidelines to make sure landowners in our service area stay within their allowable allocations. We regularly monitor water use to make sure the District is in full compliance with rules and regulations governing water use.
Our conservation efforts continue to have a positive impact on water use. The District, along with many agricultural districts throughtout the United States, has recorded higher annual crop yields, while water use has remained relatively unchanged. Our progressive water management efforts reinforce our commitment to the preservation of our most precious commodity.
These measures also guide us as we continue to seek better ways to conserve water and become increasingly more efficient about our water use.
We work around the clock, year-round to respond to water crises. Every drop counts and we are ready to take action to ensure that water is used carefully.
Our farmers, our residents and our community count on us.
Our conservation efforts continue to have a positive impact on water use. The District, along with many agricultural districts throughtout the United States, has recorded higher annual crop yields, while water use has remained relatively unchanged. Our progressive water management efforts reinforce our commitment to the preservation of our most precious commodity.
These measures also guide us as we continue to seek better ways to conserve water and become increasingly more efficient about our water use.
We work around the clock, year-round to respond to water crises. Every drop counts and we are ready to take action to ensure that water is used carefully.
Our farmers, our residents and our community count on us.
CMID Affiliations
Cortaro-Marana Irrigation District is a member in good standing of various organizations dedicated to the stewardship, education, conservation, economic opportunity and community advancement of our region.
• Arizona Farm Bureau (AZFB)
• Arizona Municipal Power Users Association (AMPUA)
• Arizona Water Banking Authority (AWBA)
• Colorado River Water Users Association (CRWUA)
• Groundwater Users Advisory Committee (GUAC)
• Lower Santa Cruz Managed Recharge Project (LSCMRP)
• Marana Chamber of Commerce
• Pima Association of Governments (PAG)
• Safe Yield Task Force (SYTF)
• Arizona Farm Bureau (AZFB)
• Arizona Municipal Power Users Association (AMPUA)
• Arizona Water Banking Authority (AWBA)
• Colorado River Water Users Association (CRWUA)
• Groundwater Users Advisory Committee (GUAC)
• Lower Santa Cruz Managed Recharge Project (LSCMRP)
• Marana Chamber of Commerce
• Pima Association of Governments (PAG)
• Safe Yield Task Force (SYTF)