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

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

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

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

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...

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

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...

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

Tortolita Alliance (TA) 2025 Strategic Plan Item No. 5 calls for Improvements at the Tortolita Preserve (TP) North Trailhead...

Periodically, Tortolita Alliance (TA) is contacted by concerned Dove Mountain residents regarding aircraft (planes & helicopters)...

Tortolita Preserve-North Trailhead Tortolita Preserve (TP) North Trailhead (N Brittlebush Drive) will undergo some improvements over the...

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

Tortolita Preserve Trail Map & Tortolita Preserve Shown On ASLD Map In late March, Town of Marana (Marana) officials informed the...

The Tortolita Preserve was gorgeous this Easter morning. Not much color due to dry conditions but still teaming with wildlife and...

Photos by Joe Thomas Tortolita Preserve-Trail Grooming Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists (SDMB) volunteers were out in the Tortolita...

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

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...

TRICO is holding an informational meeting for its District 1 (Dove Mountain) customers at the Highlands on Friday, February 7, 2025 at...

Figure 9 taken from the Dove Mountain Blvd Traffic Sound and Noise Assessment Report-June 2024 The Town of Marana (Marana) published the...

Tortolita Alliance (TA) has periodically provided a status report on Dove Mountain development activity. TA's last report was Dove...

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

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...

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

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

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 (TA) received photos from TA members of a new electric transmission line currently being constructed across the...

Here are some upcoming events in our area by which you can volunteer, enjoy our Sonoran Desert environment and engage! Marana Parks &...

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 (TA) was invited and attended the first meeting of the Tucson Wildlife Partnership on 8/21/22 in Tucson. This...

Monsoon Brewing-Wild Burro Canyon (6/23/24) Dove Mountain Pedestrian Trail Maintenance Tortolita Alliance (TA) contacted the Dove...

Tortolita Preserve-SW Panorama (7/28/24) Hiked the Tortolita Preserve (TP) Big Loop (7 miles) very early this morning (83 degrees-48%...

On June 16, 2024, a Dove Mountain resident reported to the Tortolita Alliance (TA) that an aircraft was flying over their home and making...

The beauty of the Tortolita Preserve and Tortolita Mountains is enhanced each spring and early summer with the bloom of many different...

Tangerine Road (between I-10 and Dove Mountain Boulevard) parallels the Tortolita Preserve. Therefore, it is critical that we carefully...

Tortolita Preserve Strategic Concepts-Trail System Expansion & Connections Map In early April, the Tortolita Alliance (TA) Board met with...

Legacy Barbed Wire Fence [The Problem] Barbed wire fence was installed throughout the Sonoran Desert over many years to identify property...

Tortolita Preserve (TP)-Mount Lemon View (3/27/24) TP Trail Counter-First Year Results Tortolita Alliance (TA) contributed $500 to Marana...

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...

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...

Highlands Lifelong Learning Group Tours Tortolita Preserve With Dave Barker (TA Board Member-back left) Tortolita Alliance (TA) is...

Mountain Lion (Puma)-Tortolita Preserve (3/14/24) Tortolita Preserve Wildlife Cameras On 3/6/24, two new wildlife cameras were set up in...

Baby Strong-Arm II Today's Valentine's Day Saguaro Planting Event at the Tortolita Preserve was a huge success. This event was sponsored...

The Beginning The Tortolita Alliance (TA) was formed four years ago in response to efforts by the Town of Marana (Marana) and the Arizona...

The Front Tortolita Preserve (1/24/24) TP North Entrance (Brittlebush Drive) Secure Marana Parks & Recreation (MPR) has installed...

Tortolita Preserve (TP)-Western Fence Project-North Section TP Western Fence Project Complete Marana has completed the Western Fence...

Buffelgrass-Brittlebush Drive-Dove Mountain (11/29/23) On a recent hike, my wife (Shirley) and I noticed a patch of buffelgrass on...