Tortolita Alliance
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Oct 163 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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Oct 24 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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Sep 286 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...
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Tortolita Alliance
Sep 213 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...
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Tortolita Alliance
Sep 161 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...
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Tortolita Alliance
Sep 111 min read
Water Woes XXXII Cautious Optimism
Tortolita Alliance (TA) attended the Local Drought Impact Group (LDIG) meeting today (9/11/24) via Zoom. LDIG is a bi-monthly gathering...
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Tortolita Alliance
Sep 62 min read
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 &...
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Tortolita Alliance
Aug 291 min read
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...
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Tortolita Alliance
Aug 243 min read
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...
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Tortolita Alliance
Aug 42 min read
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Jul 283 min read
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%...
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Tortolita Alliance
Jul 32 min read
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...
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Tortolita Alliance
Jun 261 min read
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...
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Tortolita Alliance
Jun 212 min read
Water Woes XXXI Agua Veto
Governor Hobbs Vetoes 5 and Signs 3 Water Bills The Arizona legislature approved 8 water bills at the very end of the 2024 legislative...
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Mark L. Johnson
Jun 145 min read
Water Woes XXX-Open House-Supply v Demand-Population
Marana Water Open House Marana Water held an Open House on Wednesday (5/29/24). It included four presentations; (1) Marana Water...
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Tortolita Alliance
Jun 111 min read
TA Alert!-Pedestrian Trail-Irrigation Lines-Trip Hazards-Fix Coming
Pedestrian Trail (Dove Mountain Blvd at Boulder Bridge Pass) Exposed Irrigation Lines TA contacted the Dove Mountain Civic Group and the...
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Tortolita Alliance
Jun 87 min read
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Jun 11 min read
Water Woes XXIX-Monsoon Outlook & Colorado River Conditions
Post Monsoon Storm-Double Rainbow-Tortolita Preserve (8/28/21) Monsoon 2024 The monsoon season extends from June 15 through September 30....
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Mark L. Johnson
May 153 min read
Water Woes XXVIII-Water Info Now Flowing
Snoqualmie Falls-Snoqualmie, WA (4/28/24) On a recent visit with my grandchildren in North Bend, WA, I took them over to Snoqualmie Falls...
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Tortolita Alliance
May 82 min read
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...
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Tortolita Alliance
May 23 min read
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...
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Tortolita Alliance
Apr 212 min read
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Apr 143 min read
Water Woes XXVII-Ebbs & Flows
Glen Canyon Dam (Lake Powell)-photo by Jim Quigley This blog covers several topics concerning Southwest water items including; (1) Local...
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Tortolita Alliance
Apr 114 min read
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Apr 72 min read
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...
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Tortolita Alliance
Mar 181 min read
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...
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Tortolita Alliance
Mar 151 min read
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...
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Tortolita Alliance
Feb 282 min read
Marana DAWS Modification-ADWR Decision On Objections-Draft Decision & Order and TA Response Letter
Picacho Peak & Full Moon Decision On Objections and Draft Decision & Order The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) issued a...
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Tortolita Alliance
Feb 163 min read
Marana DAWS Modification-Objection Letter & Hearing Update
Tortolita Alliance (TA) filed its 6th Public Records Request (PRR) to obtain copies of the Objection Letters and obtain information...
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Tortolita Alliance
Feb 102 min read
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...
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Tortolita Alliance
Feb 31 min read
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Jan 144 min read
DAWS Flaws
Tony Davis wrote an excellent article regarding the Marana DAWS Modification Application (Application) that headlined in today's Arizona...
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Mark L. Johnson
Jan 61 min read
Marana Water DAWS Modification-Reminder-Objection Letter
Our Marana In Marana Water DAWS Modification-Part IV-Objection Letter we provided the Background, Revised Public Notice & Objection...
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Mark L. Johnson
Dec 30, 20232 min read
Marana Water DAWS Modification-Part IV-Objection Letter
Our Marana Water is the sustenance of life. We cannot live without it. Yet the Town of Marana-Marana Water (MW) plans to quadruple the...
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Mark L. Johnson
Dec 21, 20231 min read
TA Alert-#2!-Marana Water DAWS Modification Application-Public Notice
Public Notice The public notice (left) requesting written objections to the Marana Water Designated Assured Water Supply (DAWS)...
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Mark L. Johnson
Dec 19, 20232 min read
TA Alert!-Marana Water DAWS Modification Application-Public Comment Period
Application-Public Comment Period Marana Water filed a Designated Assured Water Supply (DAWS) Modification Application on 5/18/22. For...
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Mark L. Johnson
Dec 10, 20231 min read
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Nov 25, 20231 min read
TA Tidbits #48 One Water Public Comments & No LIV Golf-Tucson (2024)
One Water-Public Comments Arizona Daily Star (Tony Davis) reported recently that many public comments regarding the Tucson Water (TW) One...
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Mark L. Johnson
Nov 19, 20231 min read
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Oct 4, 20231 min read
Water Woes XXV-Assured Water Supply Committee Comment Letter
In May 2023, Governor Hobbs established the Governor's Water Policy Council and associated Assured Water Supply (AWS) Committee. The...
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Mark L. Johnson
Sep 30, 20231 min read
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Sep 1, 20232 min read
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Aug 27, 20232 min read
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Aug 20, 20232 min read
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Jul 23, 20231 min read
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Jul 16, 20232 min read
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Jul 9, 20231 min read
Tucson Water Responds
Tortolita Alliance (TA) provided a detailed Comment Letter (6/7/23) regarding the Tucson Water-One Water 2100 Plan-May 2023 Draft (Plan)....
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Mark L. Johnson
Jul 2, 20231 min read
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...
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Mark L. Johnson
Jun 19, 20231 min read
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...
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