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TP North Trailhead Improvements Phase 2
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

Tortolita Alliance
Oct 241 min read


TA Tidbits #66-Jim Conroy Retires-Trail Stats & Maintenance
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

Mark L. Johnson
Oct 182 min read


TA Tidbits #65 Harvest Moon, Baby Saguaros & The Bull
Harvest Moon-Tortolita Preserve (10/6/25) Harvest Moon-Tortolita Preserve (10/6/25) Hiked Tortolita Preserve Big Loop (8 miles) early...

Mark L. Johnson
Oct 62 min read


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

Mark L. Johnson
Oct 22 min read


TA Tidbits #64 Trail Stormwater Damage & Repair-A Wildflower-Marana Meeting
Upper Javelina Trail (Top) At Sunrise (9/22/25) Tortolita Trails-Stormwater Damage & Repair The monsoon storms referenced in Water Woes XL...

Mark L. Johnson
Sep 242 min read


TA Alert! Crosswalk Talk
Pedestrian Trail Crosswalk West of Roundabout Arizona Revised Statutues 28-792 (Right-of-Way at Crosswalk) requires motor vehicles to...

Mark L. Johnson
Jun 221 min read


TA Tidbits #63 Late Bloomers
The Sonoran Desert has some unique cacti that bloom one night per year with the flowers lasting only one day. You have to be on your...

Tortolita Alliance
Jun 121 min read


Tortolita Preserve-Direction & Yield Protocol
TA members occasionally ask about the Tortolita Preserve Direction & Yield Protocol for cyclists, hikers/trail runners and equestrian. ...

Tortolita Alliance
Jun 41 min read


TA Tidbits #62 Monument Concerns
Our precious Sonoran Desert faces yet more challenges. Please consider providing your input on the following matter. Ironwood Forest...

Tortolita Alliance
May 211 min read


TA Strategic Plan-Implementation
Tortolita Alliance (TA) Board met with Marana Parks & Recreation (MPR) leaders on 4/30/25 to review and discuss implementation of TA's...

Tortolita Alliance
May 41 min read


TA Tidbits #61-Groom No Bloom
Photos by Joe Thomas Tortolita Preserve-Trail Grooming Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists (SDMB) volunteers were out in the Tortolita...

Mark L. Johnson
Mar 301 min read


Meet The Monument-25th Anniversary Ironwood Forest National Monument March 22
Friends of Ironwood Forest (FOIF) are having a celebration for the 25th anniversary of the Ironwood Forest National Monument on March 22...

Tortolita Alliance
Mar 161 min read


TA Tidbits #60-Preserve Pursuits
Baby Strong-Arm Baby Strong-Arm is doing well and has grown about one-inch! This baby saguaro was planted almost one year ago on 1/14/24...

Tortolita Alliance
Feb 81 min read


Wild Mustang Trail-Winter Trek
Hiked the Wild Mustang Trail on 12/1/24. Started early to catch the sunrise up in the mountains. A fantastic and gorgeous hike with...

Mark L. Johnson
Dec 8, 20241 min read


General Meeting & Strategic Plan 2025
Tortolita Alliance (TA) held its General Meeting on 11/12/24 at the Ritz Carlton-Dove Mountain-Golf Club at Dove Mountain Clubhouse. A...

Tortolita Alliance
Nov 14, 20242 min read


A Different Min(d)e-set
This serves as an update to our 7/3/24 blog entitled TA Alert!-Aerial Recon For Minerals . It has taken some time but I finally figured...

Mark L. Johnson
Oct 16, 20243 min read


The Secret Plan To Develop The Tortolita Fan
On April 17, 2024, Tortolita Alliance (TA) filed a Public Records Request (P RR) with the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) for "all...

Mark L. Johnson
Oct 2, 20244 min read


TRICO Electric Transmission Line-Part II-Opacity
I met with Trico Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TRICO) staff at the Dove Mountain West Park regarding the Adonis Feeder Transmission Line...

Mark L. Johnson
Sep 28, 20246 min read


Tangerine Road Corridor-Part II
On April 17, 2024, Tortolita Alliance (TA) filed a Public Records Request (P RR) with the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) for "all...

Tortolita Alliance
Sep 21, 20243 min read


TRICO Electric Transmission Line-Shocking
Tortolita Alliance (TA) received photos from TA members of a new electric transmission line currently being constructed across the...

Tortolita Alliance
Sep 16, 20241 min read
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