In Memory of

John McLean

John McClean, a 2024 Democratic candidate for the Arizona Senate, was killed in an early morning car crash in Tucson on Friday, November 15^th.

McLean, was a well-known businessman who served on the boards of multiple non-profits, including Friends of Pima Animal Care Center and Native Seeds/SEARCH. A skilled, compassionate, and sensitive leader John cared deeply about our community and environment.

As a candidate for Arizona Senate, he spent his final days fighting for a better Arizona. We could not be more thankful for his work and dedication to our great state. He was a true public servant.

Our deepest condolences go out to John’s family and friends. 

Holiday Break

Our regular weekly newsletter will take a holiday break until January 7, 2025.

The leadership of the Living Desert Alliance would like to thank all our members for their support, input, and participation throughout 2024.

Many of you wrote letters to public officials, sent emails to government agencies and attended meetings to support community initiatives throughout Pima County. Your efforts helped to Keep our Desert and Community Livable and Thriving. You made a difference!



We wish you all a happy and safe holiday season.

Picture Rocks

Cell Tower Update

SAVE THESE DATES:

12/17/24 and 01/07/25

On October 30^th the Pima County Planning & Zoning Commission voted to DENY the permitting of an 8-story cell tower next to homes on W Massingale Rd, in Picture Rocks and adjacent to Saguaro National Park East. Saguaro National Park West. Now the matter has been moved to the Pima County Board of Supervisors for consideration.

The date of the review has not been finalized but is expected to be one of the two dates listed above.

The Picture Rocks community is asking that we keep these dates open until the meeting date is determined and that we participate in person. They are hoping to have at least 100 participants in the chambers to emphasize community rejection of this unnecessary tower.

A special newsletter update will be issued as soon as the date is finalized with further information on the time, place and how we can attend.

Community support and attendance is crucial

to defeat the permit proposal at this meeting.



More to come!

Pima County Establishes

Santa Cruz River Wildlife Partnership

On Tuesday, November 12th, The Pima County Board of Supervisors approved a Memo of Understanding (MOU) between Pima County, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish the Santa Cruz River Wildlife Partnership.

At the meeting, Supervisor and Chair Adelita Grijalva voiced her support stating "... the MOU will allow the County and Regional Flood Control District to collaborate with the federal agency to create a Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge further protecting the river and its invaluable riparian habitat allowing wildlife to thrive and for ourselves and future generations to enjoy. The Santa Cruz River is dry over much of its course, but it is the reason humans inhabit Tucson and Pima county and has provided substance for our indigenous forbearers for many centuries. It now flows in over three perianal stretches and there is the potential for more that this effort will enhance."

Click here for the YouTube recording of the meeting.

Forward to 1:12: 00 to witness their proposal and approval.

Cheers to the Board for their approval

to move forward with this critical MOU! 

Watershed Management Group

Watershed Soundscape

music + art + landscape

Friday, November 22nd & Saturday, November 23rd

5 PM • Concert at 6 PM

Join the Watershed Management Group's Living Lab for a multidisciplinary concert experience exploring the sounds of our watershed.

Activities include:

• World premiere of a new multimedia piece inspired by local riparian soundscapes
• Traditional O'odham singing
• Performances by UA School of Music faculty artists
• Readings by Alison Hawthorne Deming and Gretchen Ernster Henderson
• Music by Carolina Heredia, Yuanyuan Kay He, and Lachlan Skipworth
• Visual art by Heather Bird Harris

This unique event is supported by the 2024-2025 AIR Annual Resilience Theme Award. and is free and open to the public!

The WMG's campus is supported by rainwater for all indoor and outdoor needs almost year-round, and includes extensive rain gardens, a native food forest, a 10,000-gallon underground cistern, art exhibits about Tucson’s history of flowing creeks and rivers, a kids’ play area, composting toilets, and so much more.

Click here to register and learn more about this unique and exciting event.

REMINDER

Desert Fence Busters

Two-Day Event

Friday and Saturday

November 22nd-23rd, 7:30am - 3:30pm

Get your wire cutters ready! Help the Desert Fence Busters on this two-day event to remove outdated barbed wire fencing for wildlife. This is important work to remove barriers to wildlife movement, particularly between large intact habitat blocks. You will be helping accomplish a positive and lasting improvement to the landscape and directly help wildlife by increasing connectivity between protected open spaces!

This is a two-day event with an option to camp.

RSVP HERE