

Happy Mother's Day From TP
Happy Mother's Day from the Tortolita Preserve. About 2 weeks ago, the Tortolita Alliance (TA) North Camera picked up Mrs. Mule Deer on video and photo. She appears to be quite pregnant and may have given birth in time for Mother's Day 2026! Mrs. Mule Deer Expecting Fawn-Photo A-Tortolita Preserve-TA North Camera Mrs. Mule Deer Expecting Fawn-Photo B-Tortolita Preserve-TA North Camera Mrs. Mule Deer Expecting Fawn-Video-Tortolita Preserve-TA North Camera
Mark L. Johnson
18 hours ago


TA Tidbits #77 Q-O-T-N Relo
Queen-Of-The-Night (Peniocereus greggii) The famous Queen-Of-The-Night (Peniocereus greggii) cactus (Queen) is native to the Sonoran Desert and several plants have been identified in the Tortolita Preserve (TP). The stems (few in number) emanate from a large underground tuber. The stems look like a dead stick and are very hard to locate and identify. In late May to early June, the Queen will flower at night for just one night. The flowers are white and about 3" in diameter
Tortolita Alliance
Apr 28


Water Woes XLIV USBR Takes Action
Lake Powell-Utah (Arizona Border)-Apple Maps The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) issued a press release (click link below) on Friday (4/17/26) describing emergency measures to protect Lake Powell water level from declining to dangerously low elevations. The two primary measures are: Moving 2.48 million acre-feet (maf) of water from the upstream Flaming Gorge Reservoir into Lake Powell Reducing downstream releases by from Lake Powell from the planned 7.48 maf to 6
Mark L. Johnson
Apr 19


TA Tidbits #76 Wildlife Linkages
Ann Day Memorial Widlife Bridge-Photo by Coalition For Sonoran Protection Tortolita Alliance (TA) attended the 10-year anniversary celebration of the Ann Day Memorial Wildlife Bridge [N. Oracle Road (Rt. 77) near Santa Catalina Catholic Church] on 4/17/26. Ann Day is the late Pima County Supervisor who was an ardent wildlife preservationist. This wildlife bridge was the first to be constructed in Pima County and the first in the nation to be funded by voter-approved sales-t
Tortolita Alliance
Apr 18



