The Roosevelt Irrigation District, located in Buckeye, Arizona, is a non-profit irrigation district that was established in the early 1920's. The District has an approximate delivery area of 62 square miles within the municipalities of Avondale, Goodyear, Buckeye, and portions of unincorporated Maricopa County, Arizona. Urbanization/development is very prominent in the District's delivery area boundary, which is requiring relocations of existing irrigation infrastructure to provide accessibility and safety to the general public. The District's approach to the new growth and infrastructure in their delivery area has required them to modify and relocate existing infrastructure to accommodate new development. Additional District relocations and growth has also created the need for restructuring within their management, administrative and technical staff. This paper will review the impacts that urban expansion has made into a historically irrigated agricultural area within the metropolitan Phoenix area. It will also discuss how the Roosevelt Irrigation District has responded to urban expansion demands with changes that include staff training, public involvement, new resident concerns, modifications to irrigation facilities for public safety, easement work and legal coordination, District liability with shared facilities, flood control alternatives and shared designs, well site review and increased District maintenance costs.
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