TP North Trailhead Improvements Complete

Tortolita Alliance (TA) 2025 Strategic Plan Item No. 5 calls for Improvements at the Tortolita Preserve (TP) North Trailhead (Brittlebush Drive) including utility easement access gate replacement, barbed wire fence repair and filling and regrading erosion gullies. TA is pleased to report that these improvements are now complete.

TRICO took the lead and replaced the utility access gate, installed new wildlife-friendly barbed wire fencing on each side of the gate and filled-in the erosion gullies with rip rap and gravel. See before and after photos below. Many thanks to TRICO for volunteering to do this work, especially Matt Frederickson (VP Electric Operations), Andy Bettancourt (Manager, Distribution Maintenance) and Mingo & Crew (TRICO subcontractor).

Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (PCRWRD) also assisted with repair of some serious erosion around a trunk sewer manhole. The erosion gullies around the manhole were filled in with gravel and rip rap. This critical manhole is now protected from any future damage from monsoon stormwater runoff. See before and after photos below. Thanks to PCRWRD for volunteering to do this work, especially Jackson Jenkins (PCRWRD Director) and Michael Roberts (PCRWRD Technical Services & Engineering Division).

Photos by PCRWRD

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Marana Parks & Recreation made the intitial hike/bike improvements to the North Trailhead in 2024, which included new cattle guard bypass gate and bollards to prevent OHV access. Thanks again to Jay Grodman (Natural Resources Supervisor) and staff for making these improvements. See photos in collage below.

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TP North Trailhead improvements provide new and improved; (1) hike/bike access, (2) OHV trespass prevention, (3) better protection of critical underground utility infrastructure serving Dove Mountain and (4) new wildlife-friendly fencing to allow free movement of wildlife through TP.

Here is a collage of photos showing all the improvements: