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TA Alert! Tortolita Preserve Potential Acquisition
Tortolita Preserve Trail Map & Tortolita Preserve Shown On ASLD Map In late March, Town of Marana (Marana) officials informed the...
Tortolita Alliance
7 hours ago1 min read
226 views


Tortolita Preserve Easter 2025
The Tortolita Preserve was gorgeous this Easter morning. Not much color due to dry conditions but still teaming with wildlife and...
Mark L. Johnson
3 days ago1 min read
209 views


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
216 views


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
209 views


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
237 views


TA Alert! TRICO Meeting (2/7/25)
TRICO is holding an informational meeting for its District 1 (Dove Mountain) customers at the Highlands on Friday, February 7, 2025 at...
Tortolita Alliance
Feb 11 min read
360 views


Dove Mountain Blvd Traffic Sound and Noise Assessment Report
Figure 9 taken from the Dove Mountain Blvd Traffic Sound and Noise Assessment Report-June 2024 The Town of Marana (Marana) published the...
Mark L. Johnson
Jan 131 min read
651 views


Dove Mountain Development Status December 2024
Tortolita Alliance (TA) has periodically provided a status report on Dove Mountain development activity. TA's last report was Dove...
Tortolita Alliance
Dec 1, 20242 min read
667 views


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
268 views


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
305 views


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
771 views


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
719 views


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
1,064 views


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
923 views


TA Tidbits # 59 Giddyap!
Here are some upcoming events in our area by which you can volunteer, enjoy our Sonoran Desert environment and engage! Marana Parks &...
Tortolita Alliance
Sep 6, 20242 min read
309 views


TA Alert! General Meeting 11/12/24
Tortolita Alliance (TA) will be holding a General Meeting of the organization on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at...
Tortolita Alliance
Aug 29, 20241 min read
196 views


Tucson Urban Wildlife Conservation Program
Tortolita Alliance (TA) was invited and attended the first meeting of the Tucson Wildlife Partnership on 8/21/22 in Tucson. This...
Tortolita Alliance
Aug 24, 20243 min read
238 views


TA Tidbits #58 Updates & The Ombudsman
Monsoon Brewing-Wild Burro Canyon (6/23/24) Dove Mountain Pedestrian Trail Maintenance Tortolita Alliance (TA) contacted the Dove...
Tortolita Alliance
Aug 4, 20242 min read
341 views


Tortolita Preserve-Mid-Summer Report
Tortolita Preserve-SW Panorama (7/28/24) Hiked the Tortolita Preserve (TP) Big Loop (7 miles) very early this morning (83 degrees-48%...
Mark L. Johnson
Jul 28, 20243 min read
401 views


TA Alert-Aerial Recon For Minerals
On June 16, 2024, a Dove Mountain resident reported to the Tortolita Alliance (TA) that an aircraft was flying over their home and making...
Tortolita Alliance
Jul 3, 20242 min read
532 views


Wildflowers of the Tortolitas
The beauty of the Tortolita Preserve and Tortolita Mountains is enhanced each spring and early summer with the bloom of many different...
Tortolita Alliance
Jun 26, 20241 min read
292 views


Tangerine Road Corridor-Part I
Tangerine Road (between I-10 and Dove Mountain Boulevard) parallels the Tortolita Preserve. Therefore, it is critical that we carefully...
Tortolita Alliance
Jun 8, 20247 min read
546 views


Tortolita Preserve-Planning For The Future
Tortolita Preserve Strategic Concepts-Trail System Expansion & Connections Map In early April, the Tortolita Alliance (TA) Board met with...
Tortolita Alliance
May 8, 20242 min read
377 views


Desert Fence Busters Visit TP
Legacy Barbed Wire Fence [The Problem] Barbed wire fence was installed throughout the Sonoran Desert over many years to identify property...
Tortolita Alliance
May 2, 20243 min read
496 views


TA Tidbits #56-TP Enjoyment
Tortolita Preserve (TP)-Mount Lemon View (3/27/24) TP Trail Counter-First Year Results Tortolita Alliance (TA) contributed $500 to Marana...
Tortolita Alliance
Apr 21, 20242 min read
265 views


Marana Retreat Newsbeat
The Marana Town Council held its annual retreat (2/14-16/2024) in Chandler, AZ---75 miles away from the citizens of Marana!! There is no...
Tortolita Alliance
Apr 11, 20244 min read
333 views


TA Tidbits #55 Spring Loaded
Upper Javelina Trail (4/7/24) The wildflowers are now abundant in the Tortolitas and it will get even better in the next few weeks as it...
Mark L. Johnson
Apr 7, 20242 min read
282 views


TA Tidbits #54-TA Reaching Out
Highlands Lifelong Learning Group Tours Tortolita Preserve With Dave Barker (TA Board Member-back left) Tortolita Alliance (TA) is...
Tortolita Alliance
Mar 18, 20241 min read
174 views


TA Tidbits #53-TP Wildlife Cams & The Puma
Mountain Lion (Puma)-Tortolita Preserve (3/14/24) Tortolita Preserve Wildlife Cameras On 3/6/24, two new wildlife cameras were set up in...
Tortolita Alliance
Mar 15, 20241 min read
574 views


Heart Warming-Saguaro Planting Day
Baby Strong-Arm II Today's Valentine's Day Saguaro Planting Event at the Tortolita Preserve was a huge success. This event was sponsored...
Tortolita Alliance
Feb 14, 20241 min read
254 views


TA Strategic Plan & Financial Update
The Beginning The Tortolita Alliance (TA) was formed four years ago in response to efforts by the Town of Marana (Marana) and the Arizona...
Tortolita Alliance
Feb 10, 20242 min read
323 views


TA Tidbits #52-TP Secure & Strong-Arm Still Strong
The Front Tortolita Preserve (1/24/24) TP North Entrance (Brittlebush Drive) Secure Marana Parks & Recreation (MPR) has installed...
Tortolita Alliance
Feb 3, 20241 min read
309 views


TA Tidbits #51-TP Fence Complete & Valentine's-TP Saguaro Planting Day
Tortolita Preserve (TP)-Western Fence Project-North Section TP Western Fence Project Complete Marana has completed the Western Fence...
Tortolita Alliance
Jan 21, 20241 min read
287 views


TA Tidbits #50-Invasive Grasses Too Close To Home
Buffelgrass-Brittlebush Drive-Dove Mountain (11/29/23) On a recent hike, my wife (Shirley) and I noticed a patch of buffelgrass on...
Mark L. Johnson
Dec 10, 20231 min read
256 views


TA Tidbits #47 Litter, Glitter & Critters
Tortolita Preserve (10/28/23) Branch Litter Mulching To Restore Old Cow Path Tortolita Preserve (TP) Projects In The News The TP...
Mark L. Johnson
Nov 19, 20231 min read
276 views


TA Tidbits #46-Trailhead Construction & Rose Kennedy
Tortolita Preserve-New Moore Rd. Trailhead Construction (9/30/23) Tortolita Preserve (TP)-Moore Rd Trailhead Construction The...
Mark L. Johnson
Sep 30, 20231 min read
291 views


Animals And Plants Of The Tortolita Preserve
The Tortolita Alliance (TA) Strategic Plan (2020) included a strategic goal to collaborate with other groups/agencies/public to conduct a...
Mark L. Johnson
Sep 1, 20232 min read
367 views


Tortolita Preserve-Post Storm(s) Report
Tortolita Preserve-After The Monsoon (8/27/23) Hiked the Tortolita Preserve (TP) Main Loop (7 miles) this early this morning. Reports of...
Mark L. Johnson
Aug 27, 20232 min read
411 views


TA Tidbits #45-Mr. Big Stuff, Pygmy Owl, Monsoon & More
Mr. Big Stuff Tortolita Preserve (TP) This huge Sonoran Desert Tortoise paid a visit to a property adjacent to TP near Moore Road and...
Mark L. Johnson
Aug 20, 20232 min read
311 views


Hot? Think Snow!
Tortolita Preserve-Snow Bound (3/2/23) Only 143 days ago we had 4 inches of snow in our Sonoran Desert and now the daily temperatures...
Mark L. Johnson
Jul 23, 20231 min read
169 views


TA Tidbits # 44-Tortolita Preserve Project Updates
Shades of Purple (TP-4/23/23) Tortolita Alliance (TA ) has been working with Marana Parks & Recreation (MPR) for the last 3.5 years on...
Mark L. Johnson
Jul 16, 20232 min read
351 views


Tortolita Summer
Tortolita Summer The summer solstice is 10 days nigh, And the temps are getting kinda high. But the early morning you can’t dislike, A...
Mark L. Johnson
Jul 2, 20231 min read
254 views


Night Blooming Wild Cereus Plant Ready To Bloom In Tortolita Preserve
One of the plant species identified in the Fall Tortolita Preserve (TP) Bioblitz was the Night Blooming Wild Cereus Plant aka Queen of...
Mark L. Johnson
Jun 19, 20231 min read
176 views


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...
Mark L. Johnson
Jun 4, 20231 min read
292 views


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...
Mark L. Johnson
May 14, 20232 min read
354 views


Dave DeGroot-Trailblazer
Dave DeGroot-Grand Canyon One of the great benefits of the Tortolita Alliance (TA) is meeting and working with wonderfully talented...
Mark L. Johnson
May 10, 20232 min read
417 views


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...
Mark L. Johnson
May 7, 20231 min read
211 views


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...
Mark L. Johnson
Apr 22, 20232 min read
338 views


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...
Mark L. Johnson
Apr 10, 20234 min read
766 views


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...
Mark L. Johnson
Mar 26, 20231 min read
290 views
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