Rosemont

Barrel Canyon BioBlitz Ready-Set-Go!

Sunday, March 23rd. Starts at 10am

Over fifty participants, including those experienced in botany, entomology, herpetology, ornithology, zoology and even animal tracking, have joined forces for this Sunday's Santa Rita Mountains/Rosemont Barrel Canyon Bioblitz.

Participants of this Bioblitz, hosted by Great Old Broads for Wilderness, and lead by Dave DeGroot, citizen scientist and avid hiker of the area, will use the respected iNaturalist app to document magnificent old-growth trees, as well as plants and animals living in this vibrant ecosystem that is now threatened by the proposed 26 sq. mile Hudbay/Copperworld open pit mine.

Data obtained from this effort becomes a valuable scientific tool for researching and monitoring the areas biodiversity and will assist in supporting efforts to stop this mine.

A special thank you to everyone involved in the documentation

and protection of this "Wonder of Nature" environment.

BioBlitz results will be shared as information becomes available.

Hudbay/Copperworld Open Pit Mine

A Threat Children's Health

A Tucson Opinion article, printed in the March 6th edition of Arizona Daily Star, points out the dark realities of the proposed Hudbay/Copperworld open pit mine.

The article titled “Lead in Hudbay tailings would threaten children”, written by Peggy Ollerhead, a retired special educator, school phycologist, and grandmother, contains factual scientific information detailing the dangers of this project not only for the surrounding communities but also to the health and welfare of the children residing there.

She outlines how this mine, (slated to be constructed on and around the beautiful Santa Rita Mountains) if approved, will dump massive amounts of mine tailing waste containing lead, arsenic, cadmium, and other hazardous material within 600 feet of houses and one and a half miles from Copper Ridge Elementary School. 

Among other details, she points to a Stanford University fact sheet detailing the effects of lead poisoning in children to include:

• Damage to the brain and nervous system.
• Behavior and learning problems.
• Hearing problems
• Anemia
• Convulsions, comas, and even death.

Click here to read this informative article and learn more about the hazards of this disastrous project.

We can’t let this happen

The children, plants and animals living in this area, need a spokesperson. Let that be you. Contact Governor Hobbs and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). Ask them to stop this operation from moving forward and to protect and preserve the beautiful Santa Rita Mountains and its inhabitants.

Click below to learn more from the

Save the Scenic Santa Rita Mountains Association

Meet Ironwood Forest National Monument

2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the proclamation creating the Ironwood Forest National Monument.

As stated in the proclamation:

“The landscape of the Ironwood Forest National Monument is swathed with the rich, drought-adapted vegetation of the Sonoran Desert. The monument contains objects of scientific interest throughout its desert environment. Stands of ironwood, Palo Verde, and saguaro blanket the monument floor beneath the rugged mountain ranges, including the Silver Bell Mountains. Ragged Top Mountain is a biological and geological crown jewel amid the depositional plains in the monument.”

So, join in on Saturday's celebration sponsored by

The Friends of the Iron Wood Forest and The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection honoring this amazing desert jewel.

• Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025
• Time: 9am-3pm
• Location: El Tiro Gliderport, Marana, Arizona
• Admission: Free and open to the public. No reservations required.
• Parking: Free. Signed lot within the Gliderport.
• Facilities: Port-a-potties, hand washing stations, and a food truck.

HELP!

They are looking for some extra hands to help with tasks such as set-up and take-down for this event. If interested, RSVP to miked@ironwoodforest.org

See you there!

Watershed Managment Group

River Run Network

Bike Ride

Sunday, March 23rd, 9:00 - Noon

Travel through the beautiful Julian Wash Greenway and help identify opportunities for rain gardens along the Loop!

You'll ride through open spaces and even neighborhoods looking for opportunities, so keep your eyes open and creativity flowing as you pedal along this creek.

Follow Joaquin Murrieta, WMG's Cultural Ecologist Director and Justin Risley from Native Seed SEARCH will lead this 10-mile round trip bike ride and work with participants in identifying areas where rain gardens are possible along the path to support future projects with Pima Association of Governments.

Climate Community Day at Pima Community College

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Pima Community College (PCC) invites you to Climate Community Day on April 8, 2025, at the Downtown Campus.

This event features engaging sessions on climate action and sustainability, including an opening session with Arizona Youth Climate Coalition, an afternoon keynote by Alison Hawthorne Deming, a community organization lunch fair, and a Career Panel featuring local businesses and innovators.

Attendees will explore PCC's efforts in sustainability, connect with community partners, and discover ways to get involved in climate solutions.

Make sure to stop by the Living Desert Alliance table to meet our leadership and learn ways to become involved in community environmental efforts.

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
• Time: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
• Location: PCC Downtown Campus, Amethyst Room
• Cost: Free and open to all.
• RSVP: Not required.

Major Downtown Tucson Rally Planned!

Saturday, May 3rd from 2 to 4 pm

Mark Your Calendars

Save the Scenic Santa Ritas (SSSR) invites you to join them, along with numerous southern Arizona environmental organizations, community leaders, and concerned citizens to oppose the Copper World Mine open pit mine.

The rally will take place on Saturday, May 3rd from 2 to 4 pm at Tucson Federal Building near Congress/Granada. Prominent local leaders, including Adelita Grijalva and Kevin Dahl, have confirmed speaking appearances along with representatives from environmental groups, indigenous peoples, and affected citizens.

Visit the SSSR Facebook Page to learn more and stay up to date on this important event.

Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum

Beat Back Buffalo Grass and Stinknet

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

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.