Leslie Meyers, SRP’s Chief Water Executive and Associate General Manager of Water Resources, Susan Anable, Cox Communications ‘ Phoenix Market Vice President, and Kesha Hodge Washington, Mayor of the city, are standing at the front. SRP Photo Courtesy
How a collaboration between SRP and the James M. Cox Foundation modernizes outdated irrigation systems, conserves water, and strengthens South Phoenix communities for the future.
Water has always been more than just a utility in some of South Phoenix’s neighborhoods; it has also been a lifeline.
Growing up around private flood irrigation systems that were built generations before, some as early as the 1920s, while others were added in the 1970s, such as Estrella-Rancho and Monte Vista Gardens. These processes preserved the character of these tight-knit desert communities, maintained shade trees, cool streets, and maintained lawns. However, decades later, the infrastructure that previously provided everyday life has deteriorated, becoming inefficient, and challenging to maintain.
The Community Irrigation Revitalization Initiative ( CIRI ) of the Salt River Project was born out of a community-focused effort to repair, modernize, and stabilize aging flood irrigation systems while keeping water accessible and affordable for residents.
A$ 275, 000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation, which was given to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation ( BEF), is now assisting in ensuring that this work is more thorough and lasting. The grant plays a crucial role in stabilizing aging personal flood irrigation systems that many residents could not usually afford to repair by supporting Phases 2, 3, and 4 of the project and covering an estimated 40 % of the repair and modernization costs.
We are appreciative of the good donation from the James M. Cox Foundation, which substantially expands the scope and breadth of this crucial work, demonstrating the effectiveness of partnerships in addressing complex community issues.
Elvy Barton, SRP Senior Manager of Water and Forest Sustainability.
REPAIRING THE PAST TO ENSURE THE FUTURE
South Phoenix’s personal flood irrigation systems were not built to last a century. Water loss, regional flooding, and safety concerns are all factors that are particularly difficult for neighborhoods that are currently facing economic barriers due to cracked channels and outdated designs. Instead of completely abandoning flood irrigation, CRI addresses these issues head-on by providing honest infrastructure upgrades and long-term irrigation support. Up to 238 homes will gain when the most recent upgrades are finished, with improvements anticipated to save an estimated 76 million gallons of water over the course of five years.
COX COMMUNICATIONS: A LOCAL PARTNER WITH DEEP ROOTS
Cox Communications and SRP have a long history of supporting the communities they serve, united by a shared vision for sustainability, innovation, and long-term resilience. The Community Irrigation Revitalization Initiative ( CIRI), which is supported by Cox thanks to that established relationship, which helped lay the foundation for their mutual respect for conservation and neighborhood stability.
The James M. Cox Foundation’s investment strengthens a campaign that “reflects our shared commitment to sustainability and conservation,” assisting in reducing water waste, protecting neighborhoods from flooding, and conserving the green spaces that matter so much to this community. This collaboration demonstrates how effective public-private partnerships can be in making a native, significant impact.
— Cox Communications ‘ Susan Anable, Phoenix Market Vice President
THE JAMES M. COX FOUNDATION’S LEGACY
The James M. Cox Foundation, named in honor of the founder of Cox Enterprises, continues a tradition of giving back to the community. The Foundation supports nonprofits that are addressing some of the most pressing issues facing Cox employees ‘ homes and places of employment. Its emphasis on empowering families, conservation, education, and health strongly resembles the priorities at the heart of CIRI.
The James M. Cox Foundation helps preserve well-established landscapes, prevent water loss, and ease the financial strain of keeping up aging infrastructure by funding various phases of the revitalization effort. The work promotes useful solutions that will enable these communities to continue to be attractive, adaptable, and rooted in place for generations to come while maintaining the character of historical irrigation neighborhoods.
A MODEL FOR WATER-SMART COMMUNITIES IN ARIZONA
SRP’s goal of conserving 5 billion gallons of water by 2035 is even supported by CIRI, demonstrating how concentrated infrastructure improvements can help meet local sustainability goals. Interestingly, long-term maintenance is left in the hands of the neighborhood once revitalization work is finished, protecting local ownership and community resilience.
This strategy in South Phoenix addresses more issues than irrigation channels; it strengthens the foundation for generations to come, making neighborhoods greener, cooler, and more attached. Through the support of the James M. Cox Foundation for this work and the long-standing partnership between Cox Communications and SRP, CIRI demonstrates how publicprivate partnerships can work up to advance water conservation, preserve community character, and promote investment in an Arizona’s more resilient future.
