New ASU Study Reveals

'...quietly disappearing groundwater...'

in Arizona

A May 30^th web article in ABC15 Arizona, cites a new study by Arizona State University that reveals 'quietly disappearing groundwater' in Arizona.

The new research from ASU professors shows the Lower Colorado River Basin has lost as much groundwater as is contained in Lake Mead over the past 20 years." We're losing a lot of water," said Jay Famiglietti, an Arizona State University professor in the School of Sustainability.

The research goes on to say the losses are due to a combination of drought conditions, increased urban growth demands, and agricultural use throughout the region.

Click here to read the entire article. 

Knowledge is power. Learn these facts to counter arguments from community leaders, businesses, and private citizens who distort statistics falsely supporting the notion that "all is well". Now is the time to act responsibly by conserving and repurposing water and monitoring our rivers and aquifers.

By doing so, we Keep our Desert and Community Livable and Thriving!

Above image is from AMWAU: Click to review their 3-part groundwater series.

Join

River Run Network's

"Flow365”

Training Program! 

Become a Paid Watershed Management Group Apprentice!

The Watershed Management Group's River Run Network is looking for passionate community members in Tucson and surrounding areas to help monitor flow in our creeks and rivers through their Flow365 Monitoring Program.

At this training, Lauren Knight, River Run Network Program Manager, will share their inspiring 50-year vision for flowing rivers, introduce you to the River Run Network, and explain how your involvement plays a critical role in helping WMG, the City, and the County protect and restore river flows across our watershed.

By attending this training, you'll officially join their volunteer monitoring team and help monitor river flow; attend the Flow365 Monitoring Program training in Tucson on August 5th, and explore the San Pedro River restoration on Saturday, July 12th.

• Register for the Flow365 Monitoring Program training here.
• Apply for the WMG Apprentice Program here.

Please forward this information to

family, friends or anyone interested in supporting community science.

Pima County Sandbag Stations Now Open

Sandbag Stations are now open in Pima County in preparation for the 2025 Monsoon. Be Prepared!



Check out the locations 

and feel free to fill up to 20 sandbags per vehicle.

Stay safe!

Photo from Tucson.com

Linda Vista 52 Annexation &

Re-zoning

06/17/25 Marana Town Council Meeting

Over 40 citizens attended the June 17th Marana Town Council Meeting. Most of the audience were there to voice their opposition to the Linda Vista 52 Annexation, as noted in our “Alert 1” newsletter titled “Town of Marana Blindsides Linda Vista Community”.

Eight speakers took advantage of the three minutes allowed at the beginning of each council meeting to speak. Despite a power failure that darkened the room like a movie theater for the entire session, each spoke passionately about their opposition to the annexation, bringing up facts and concerns affecting them, the environment, and surrounding communities.

No decision was made at this meeting. The actual vote by the council is expected to take place in August. Until then we encourage all of you to attend each upcoming council meeting to continue a unified community effort to stop the plan as it exists now and to re-evaluate the process so that it includes ALL citizens of Marana, not just investors and special interest groups.

Next Marana Town Council Meeting is set for Tuesday, July 1st.

Then every other Tuesday.

Click here to link to a video and hear each speaker’s remarks including those of the LDA. It takes a few seconds to load, so be patient.

A special thanks to all the people who attended the meeting. Representatives from Linda Vista, Marana, Oro Valley, and as far as Picture Rocks took the time to attend and offer support in opposing this measure.

Communities working together can make a difference!

We'll keep you posted

Project Blue Data Center Approved!

City of Tucson now must approve Annexation

On June 16^th, the Living Desert Alliance sent an urgent "Alert 2" Newsletter titled “Project Blue Data Center”, asking our members to send messages to the Pima County Board of Supervisors in a last-minute attempt to urge them to postpone the vote for a massive $3.6 billion data center.

We ask for this so that members of the community would have time to review a 44-page memorandum released on June 10^th, by Jan Lester, County Administrator, only three working days before the intended PCBS vote.

Unfortunately, despite our efforts, and those of other community organizations, the board voted 3-2 to approve the Purchase-Sale Agreement (PSA) with Beale Infrastructure to build the technology campus.



Keep in mind, The Supervisors vote to approve the land sale is not the last word on whether the datacenter happens. Tucson City Council will have a say because the deal requires the city to annex the land into Tucson City Limits.

Click here to review a KGUN9 report on the outcome and future of this project.

Santa Rita Mountains

Open Pit Mine

Residents raise health and safety concerns at HOA community meeting

 A June 16^th KGUN9 article written by Joel Foster reports that the legal battle over the controversial Copper World Mine has reignited concern among residents of Sycamore Canyon, a neighborhood perched just below the Santa Rita Mountains.

The mine, operated by Canadian company Hudbay Minerals, could soon expand operations near this fast-growing residential area, raising environmental and public health questions for families and retirees alike.

Click here to read the complete text and to learn more about the concerns as presented by local resident Christi Moody, a member of the Corona de Tucson Preservation Alliance, urging greater awareness of the mine’s potential impacts at the Sycamore Canyon Homeowners Association (HOA) meeting.

Click here to learn more about the efforts of the Save the Scenic Santa Ritas efforts to stop this disastrous project from being approved.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

SAVE OUR SAGUAROS!

Beat Back Buffalograss and Stinknet

Join the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM) and volunteer to combat invasive plants such as buffelgrass, stinknet and arundo.

Upcoming Event:

June25th.

6:00 am - 9:00 am

Buffelgrass out-competes saguaros for space, nutrients and water. It also poses a serious fire risk both in the desert and in our city. Join others in their efforts to combat this weed. There will be live Desert Museum animals, tasty pastries and more.

Click here for links to multiple invasive plant removal events.

Click here to learn Stinknet from Stinket.org, a community of volunteers working in tandem with the ASDM to fight and stop the spread of this weed.