Mark L. Johnson
Fruitful Hike
Hiked the Upper Javelina Trail early this morning. First time on the new section near Boulder Canyon Pass (see photos in collage). The...
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Mark L. Johnson
- May 28
- 2 min
Water Woes XXIII-H2O Medley
The following is a medley of recent H2O developments with the Colorado River, Marana Water and Tucson Water. New-Colorado River...
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Mark L. Johnson
- May 14
- 2 min
Water Woes XXII-Cautious & Frugal
The water situation in the West has improved but it is only one year in a 24-year period whereby the Colorado River reservoir system has...
339 views
Mark L. Johnson
- May 10
- 2 min
Dave DeGroot-Trailblazer
Dave DeGroot-Grand Canyon One of the great benefits of the Tortolita Alliance (TA) is meeting and working with wonderfully talented...
259 views
Mark L. Johnson
- May 7
- 1 min
Dry But Colorful
Hedgehog Cactus Tortolita Preserve (4/23/23) Hiked the Wild Burro-Alamo Springs-Spur Trail early this morning. The lower trail potions...
205 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Apr 22
- 2 min
TA Tidbits #43-Blitz & Bitz
The following serves to update some important activities at the Tortolita Preserve (TP) and Upper Javelina Trail. TP Spring Bioblitz The...
316 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Apr 10
- 4 min
Saguaro Facts & Status
It has not been a good year for our treasured saguaros. Strong-Arm passed after a wonderful 160-year life in the Tortolita Preserve. We...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Mar 26
- 1 min
March Gladness
Most likely your favorite team(s) have been eliminated from the NCAA basketball tournament. So its time for a little March Gladness to...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Mar 22
- 2 min
Marana Water DAWS Modification Part III-DAWS On Pause
DAWS Process/Status Let's summarize the previous Marana Water (MW) Designated Assured Water Supply (DAWS) Modification blogs: Part...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Mar 8
- 1 min
TA Alert! Sustainable Landscapes Expo Saturday-March 11
The Annual Sustainable Landscapes Expo will be held this Saturday (3/11/23) from 10:00 AM to 2:00 at the U of A Cooperative Extension...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Mar 4
- 1 min
Snowscapes
Tortolita Preserve-Snow Bound (3/2/23) The rare Sonoran Desert snow event on Thursday, March 2, 2023 was beautiful and captured for...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Feb 25
- 2 min
TA Tidbits # 41-Tortolita Preserve Project Updates
Tortolita Dawn (TP-9/25/22) Tortolita Alliance (TA ) attended a presentation by Marana Parks & Recreation (MPR) on 2/23/23 at the...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Feb 18
- 3 min
Smart Irrigation To Save Water
Typically, 50-75% of the water use at a home in the arid southwest goes to outdoor landscape irrigation. Therefore, it is very important...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Feb 12
- 1 min
A Wild Mustang Valentine
Happy Valentine's Day From The Wild Mustang Trail! Hiked the Wild Mustang Trail (9 miles) last Sunday. See 3-D video of the hike and...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Feb 5
- 1 min
TP Naturalists
Tortolita Preserve-Cool & Captivating (Mark & Shirley-2/1/23) The Arizona Master Naturalist Association (AZMNA) held their annual meeting...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Jan 29
- 9 min
Marana Water DAWS Modification Part II-Analysis
Introduction The 6-Step Procedure for developing the Designated Assured Water Supply (DAWS) was described in Part I. In Part II, we go...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Jan 22
- 3 min
Marana Water DAWS Modification-Part I Introduction & DAWS Basics
Introduction Marana Water (MW) applied to modify its Designated Assured Water Supply (DAWS) with the Arizona Department of Water...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Jan 15
- 1 min
Shades of Gray Make The Day
Wild Burro Wash & Trail 1/15/23 Hiking the Tortolita Preserve or the Tortolita Mountain Trails on a cloudy, pre-storm day is just as...
238 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Jan 6
- 1 min
Dove Mountain Watch Update
Dove Mountain Crime Update This serves as an update to the meeting held by the Marana Police Department with Dove Mountain residents on...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Dec 28, 2022
- 9 min
Water Woes XIX-New Water-Issues & Who Pays?
This blog covers the current state of the Colorado River water supply and the urgent need to develop new sources of water (New Water) to...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Dec 17, 2022
- 2 min
TP Holiday Cheer!
Tortolita Preserve (12/10/22) Mule Deer Jumping For Joy Good news from Marana Parks & Recreation (MPR) on three Tortolita Preserve (TP)...
300 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Dec 8, 2022
- 4 min
Meeting Report: Crime & Low-Flying Aircraft-Town of Marana-12/7/22
Police Chief Reuben Nuñez Reviewing Crime Reduction Strategy Approximately 85 Dove Mountain residents attended last night's meeting at...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Dec 7, 2022
- 1 min
Reminder: DM Community Meeting Tonight With Town of Marana-Crime & Low Flying Aircraft
Many Dove Mountain residents are very concerned about the recent uptick in crime and low-flying aircraft noise in the early hours of the...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Dec 4, 2022
- 2 min
TA Reflections & Future
The Beginning The Tortolita Alliance (TA) was formed three years ago in response to efforts by the Town of Marana (Marana) and the...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Nov 26, 2022
- 2 min
TA Tidbits # 40-Water, BioBlitz and Crime & Planes
Water Year 2022 Update Tortolita Alliance (TA) attended the Local Drought Impact Group (LDIG) Meeting via Microsoft Team on November 8,...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Nov 19, 2022
- 1 min
BioBlitz Bonanza!
The first ever Tortolita Preserve Fall BioBlitz was a huge success with 683 observations by 46 observers and 73 identifiers with 136...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Nov 12, 2022
- 1 min
TP BioBlitz (11/19) Sign-Up Reminder
A BioBlitz is an event to inventory as many species as possible in a specific area during a specific time frame. Using the smartphone app...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Oct 29, 2022
- 2 min
TP BioBlitz Sign-Up
A BioBlitz is an event to inventory as many species as possible in a specific area during a specific time frame. Using the smartphone app...
240 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Oct 20, 2022
- 3 min
TA Tidbits #39-Saguaros, BioBlitz & H2O
Tortolita Preserve-Fiery Monsoon Skies Old Growth Sagauro Deaths-Bacterial Infection & Climate Change Strong-arm passed on 8/4/22 and is...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Oct 8, 2022
- 6 min
Tucson Water-One Water 2100 Analysis
Tucson Water (TW) is preparing an 80-year Water Master Plan called One Water 2100. This is an update to their previous Water Plan...
320 views
Jill Kismet
- Aug 28, 2022
- 4 min
A Keystone Of The Sonoran Desert: Why Old Saguaros Matter
When I stand beside a truly massive saguaro, I am in constant awe of their magnificence – as I’m sure you are. I reflect on its...
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Jill Kismet
- Aug 21, 2022
- 4 min
Sky Ranch Reserve: A Critical Home To Marana’s Wildlife Is Under Threat
Did you know the residential community of Sky Ranch, near Tangerine Road and Camino de Manana, is home to a 409-acre Reserve? Yep, for...
687 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Jul 31, 2022
- 3 min
Storm-Water-Shed
Upper Wild Burro Canyon Watershed (7/31/22) Hiked the Wild Burro Trail and Alamo Springs Loop Trail early this morning after nice...
344 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Jul 3, 2022
- 1 min
Upper Javelina Monsoon Watch
Hiked the Upper Javelina Trail very early this morning. Two javelina observed. No hikers seen. A few saguaro cactus flowers. Nice...
198 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Jun 15, 2022
- 1 min
Water Woes XVII-Disaster Looming
The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) issued a press release in response to yesterday's Senate Committee on Energy and Natural...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Jun 5, 2022
- 1 min
Tortolita Wild Horses & More
TA Members Kit Nidever and Joe Thomas hiked the Ridgeline Trail on May 31 and saw a herd of wild horses. See photo by Kit above. A herd...
333 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Jun 1, 2022
- 1 min
TA Tidbits # 38-Strong Arm & TP Update
The Mighty Strong-Arm Strong-Arm was host to another Great Horned Owlet this Spring which has now fledged the nest and is hopefully doing...
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Mark L. Johnson
- May 1, 2022
- 1 min
May Day! May Day! May Day!
The Conjunction Moon, Jupiter & Venus line up early Wednesday (4/27/22) morning over the Tortolita Preserve. Good things come in...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Apr 17, 2022
- 1 min
Sunrise Service
Hiked the Upper Javelina to Wild Mustang to Wild Burro to Alamo Springs Spur Loop Trails early this morning. A nice 9-mile, peaceful...
287 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Apr 6, 2022
- 1 min
TA Tidbits # 36-Tortolita Red & TP Update
Tortolita Red Ocotillo Blooming & Pyrruloxia (Desert Cardinal) TA has been working closely with Marana Parks & Recreation (MPR) and...
364 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Mar 27, 2022
- 1 min
Trail Sights & Sounds
Hiked the Wild Burro to Alamo Springs Loop Trail this morning. Stopped for a rest at the top of the Wild Burro Trail and quietly listened...
365 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Mar 13, 2022
- 1 min
Zoom Or Bloom?
Coulter's Lupine-Upper Javelina Trail Tired of COVID-19 Zoom calls? Time to get out for a hike and see the wildflowers. The Bloom has...
196 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Mar 6, 2022
- 1 min
Freedom!
Strong-Arm Saguaro At Daylight Went for a 7.5 mile hike in the Tortolita Preserve (TP) this morning. I had to. The events in Europe are...
272 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Feb 26, 2022
- 2 min
TA Tidbits #35 Petitions, Owls & New Water Agency
Town Council Candidates Need More Signed Petitions Thanks to everyone who have signed the Non-Partisan Nomination Petitions for Patrick...
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Tortolita Alliance
- Feb 16, 2022
- 2 min
TA Tidbits #34 Petitions & More
Meet The Change4Marana Candidates-Sign Petitions Patrick Cavanaugh, Mark Johnson and Tim Kosse are running for Marana Town Council as the...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Feb 6, 2022
- 2 min
Mark 4 Marana Town Council Campaign
I first came to Marana in 1976 on a cross county RV adventure during my senior year in college. Having grown up in a coastal environment...
1,329 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Feb 1, 2022
- 2 min
Water Woes XIV-Pause On DAWS
The following serves as an update to the previously reported Marana Water Designated Assured Water Supply (DAWS) analysis. Remember DAWS...
220 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Jan 30, 2022
- 1 min
TA Tidbits #33 Elections & Reflections
Wild Burro-Alamo Springs Spur Hike (1/30/22) Wild Burro Upper Valley At Dawn Desert Spoon Making A Comeback Chuparosa-First Spring Wild...
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Mark L. Johnson
- Jan 11, 2022
- 1 min
TP West & The Mound
Tortolita Preserve West Looking North & East Toward Dove Mountain From The Mound Happy New Year! Hiked the western portion of the...
337 views
Mark L. Johnson
- Dec 18, 2021
- 2 min
TA Tidbits #32-2021 Wrap Up
Night Watch Great Horned Owl keeps watch over the Tortolita Preserve! Tortolita Preserve-Trail Counter Update The Marana Parks &...
315 views
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