Tortolita Alliance (TA) had a nice conversation with Wayne Barnett [Marana Parks & Recreation (MPR) Director] on 4/8/26. We discussed some of the key TA Strategic Plan items, with this important update: Tortolita Preserve (TP) Convert Barbed Wire Fence (north side) With Wildlife Friendly Wire -MPR will do conversions in conjunction with other projects on the north side. TP Trail Expansion -MPR has proposed $70,000 in the FY 26/27 Budget (starts July 2026), for designing and

Tortolita Alliance has placed a new wildlife camera at an unknown wash on the north side of the Tortolita Preserve. There is plenty of wildlife activity, especially at night. These photos and videos demonstrate how wonderfully the Tortolita Preserve serves as pristine wildlife habitat and a wildlife corridor for movement to and from the Catalina Mountains, Tortolita Mountains and Tucson Mountains. Coyote Coyotes Do Sleep At Night! Javelina Family Outing Big Boy! Mule Deer

The hydrologic conditions on the Colorado River are perilous. As of March 1, 2026, the Colorado River watershed snow accululation was 67% of normal and the reservoirs are very low--Lake Powell (25%) and Lake Mead (34%). As reported in Water Woes XLII-Colorado River EIS Comment Letter & CUT20 , the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) issued a   Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) . Apparent

Shirley and I have been gone for a month on our annual visit to the Big Island (Hawaii). So I hiked the Upper Javelina Trail early this morning to catch up. The Tortolitas are dry, and very few wildflowers are observed. This, despite a normal monsoon and some good winter rain. The warm weather has stunted the wildflowers--so far. With nothing else to report regarding the Tortolitas, I will provide some interesting experiences on the Big Island. Big Island (Hawaii) We had

I-11 Alternative Routes Tortolita Alliance (TA) is a member group of the Coalition For Sonoran Desert Protection (CSDP). TA coordinates with CSDP on a variety of projects. CSDP provided these recent updates on the proposed I-11 project and their 2026 Master Plan. Update on the Interstate 11 Project and Lawsuit In January 2025, and in response to the lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of Ironwood Forest, Tucson Bird Alliance, and CSDP, the Federa

Tortolita Preserve Horseback Ride-1/7/26 Went on a 2-hour horseback ride in the Tortolita Preserve (TP) last Saturday! I have been wanting to do this for some time, and so glad I did it. My horse was Trisha, and she was fabulous. On this horseback ride, you can really experience the wild, wild west. Just like it was 175 years ago when the pioneers traveled through our beautiful Sonoran Desert. What a treat! The horseback trip was sponsored by the Marana Parks & Recreat

Tortolita Alliance (TA) is conducting its 2026 Fundraiser See our 2026 Fundraiser flyer (below) To donate, please click on the button below to be directed to the TA Website Donate2026 Page:

The Tortolita Preserve is experiencing a subtle, micro superbloom right now — one that's easy to miss if you're not paying close attention.  From a distance, the landscape looks like its usual green expanse of desert shrubs and annuals after the good winter rains we’ve had, with no dramatic carpets of color stretching to the horizon. But get down low along the trails, especially from the Moore Road Trailhead heading west to the north-turning corner, and you'll discover blanke

Lake Mead at Hoover Dam-photo by Associated Press The Colorado River parties could not agree on how to manage the Colorado River post-2026. Therefore, on 1/16/26, the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) issued a Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) . You can download a copy of the EIS Executive Summary at the link below: Tortolita Alliance has reviewed the EIS, and it is lengthy and complic

An introduction to dodder, a unique parasitic vine that thrives in the Tortolita Mountains area

Tucson View from Upper Javeline Trail (1/18/26) Hiked the Upper Javelina Trail early this morning to see if any wildflowers have appeared. The wildflower bloom this year should be prolific, as we had normal monsoon rainfall in 2025 and a warm fall/early winter. It's early, so only one wildflower and one nasty grass were observed. Brittlebush has started to bloom: Brittlebush-Upper Javelina Trail (1/18/26) Sadly, Buffelgrass is now appearing along the higher elevations of th

Saguaro Research-Tortolita Preserve Tortolita Alliance (TA) has proposed to conduct a Saguaro Survey/Inventory within the Tortolita Preserve. TA worked with scientists from the Tumamoc Desert Laboratory to develop a preliminary plan, which has been submitted to Marana Parks & Recreation for consideration. We await their response. A Saguaro Survey/Inventory project is an excellent way for our citizen scientists to participate in a very important, long-term saguaro study. Sa

Two significant events occurred this month regarding the ongoing struggle to solve Arizona's water supply dilemma: (Part I) No Colorado River Water Sharing Deal, and (Part II) Arizona's Water Infrastructure Financing Authority (WIFA) New Water Proposals. Part I-No Colorado River Water Sharing Deal The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) gave the Upper Basin States (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) and the Lower Basin States (Arizona, California, and Nevada) un

ASLD Land In Marana-Tortolita Preserve (Leased) In Pink Tortolita Alliance (TA) Board members met with representatives from the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) and the Town of Marana (Marana) this morning (11/14/25) at the Marana Municipal Complex. The purpose of the meeting was to: (1) inform ASLD about TA and all we have done to support the Tortolita Preserve, (2) learn more about the ASLD land lease and sale process, (3) learn more about the potential sale of the Tor

As previously reported in TP North Trailhead Improvements (5/30/25) , TRICO and Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (PCRWRD) constructed Improvements at the Tortolita Preserve (TP) North Trailhead (Brittlebush Drive) in May 2025 that included a new utility easement access gate, barbed wire fence repair, and filling and regrading erosion gullies. The Improvements held up well during this year's monsoon events, but there was some displacement of rip rap, es

Jim Conroy-Director-Marana Parks & Recreation (MPR)-Photo provided by MPR Jim Conroy Retires Jim Conroy served as Director of the Marana Parks & Recreation Department (MPR) for the last 8 years and retired on 10/10/25. Jim was responsible for several achievements for the Town of Marana, including: (1) Parks & Recreation Master Plan (2020-2030), (2) Marana Aquatic & Recreation Center, (3) numerous park and trail improvements, and more. Tortolita Alliance (TA) worked closely w

Dove Mountain & Marana From Upper Javelina Trail (3/5/23) Tortolita Alliance (TA) attended the Marana Community Conversation Meeting at the Dove Mountain CSTEM K-8 School on 10/8/25. The topics included: (1) Marana Growth, (2) Transportation, and (3) Data Centers. Marana utilized a new approach for these meetings. Attendees are not allowed to raise their hands and ask verbal questions. Attendees can fill out a question card, and the presenters will answer the question duri

Harvest Moon-Tortolita Preserve (10/6/25) Harvest Moon-Tortolita Preserve (10/6/25) Hiked Tortolita Preserve Big Loop (8 miles) early...

2025 Monsoon Stats It's official, the 2025 Monsoon (June 15-September 30) total precipitation was 2.82 inches, which is the 12th driest...

Upper Javelina Trail (Top) At Sunrise (9/22/25) Tortolita Trails-Stormwater Damage & Repair The monsoon storms referenced in Water Woes XL...