Living Desert Alliance
Keep our Desert and Community Livable and Thriving
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A special thanks to everyone who attended our inaugural Speaker Series event, Voices from Across Our Community. Your support and enthusiasm made the evening a success. Lots of great conversation, education, and community connection. We also extend a sincere thanks to guest speaker Nick Maya from the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection for his engaging and insightful presentation.
Our next event is set for Wednesday, August 5th, featuring Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson of the University of Arizona’s Indigenous Resilience Center. He’ll dive into traditional Navajo agricultural practices and show how these time‑tested methods can inform and strengthen modern farming. It promises to be a powerful, eye‑opening session. Stay tuned for more details.
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Key Details About TEP’s Copper World Power Plan Withheld from the Public
The Town of Sahuarita leadership knew far more than they let on!
Thanks to the dogged research of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas (SSSR), new records have surfaced indicating that the Town of Sahuarita knew far more about Tucson Electric Power’s plans to deliver electricity to Hudbay’s Copper World mine than it ever shared with the public. SSSR’s review of emails and regulatory filings uncovered clear evidence that town staff were aware—months ago—that TEP and Hudbay were jointly planning a new “Santa Rita Substation” designed to relay power directly to the mine.
These findings raise serious questions about why town leadership, including Mayor Tom Murphy, continued to publicly assert that the Santa Rita Connection had “nothing to do” with Hudbay even after staff had internal documentation showing otherwise.
Summary of what SSSR found
(Click here for SSSR’s full detailed report)
Emails show that by March 12, Sahuarita’s Community Development Director was already discussing the “collocated substation” with TEP—prompting TEP’s project manager to confirm in writing that “The Santa Rita Substation will now house the connection from CopperWorld.” This directly contradicts public statements made by both TEP and Mayor Murphy, who told residents on Jan. 26 that the Santa Rita Connection was unrelated to Hudbay.
Despite knowing the substation would serve Copper World, town staff omitted this information from multiple public reports and council presentations, including a May 11 update describing the project only as a reliability upgrade for local homes and businesses. Internal emails show staff were already discussing Hudbay’s power needs two weeks before that meeting.
Copper World’s massive electrical demand far exceeds that of Sahuarita’s 14,000 residential customers, raising the possibility that ratepayers could end up subsidizing Hudbay’s connection to the grid—even as the town withheld key information about the project’s true purpose.
Other Key Information from SSSR:
LDA extends our sincere thanks to Save the Scenic Santa Ritas for their persistent, high‑quality research and commitment to public transparency. We will continue to keep our members informed as more information becomes available.
Photo: Electrical Engineering Portal
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Cool Summer Nights
at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Open till 10:00 p.m. on Saturdays
thru August 29th
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum wants you to Play it cool this Summer! You already know Desert Museum is lovely during the day, but it’s even cooler after dark. Join them every Saturday night throughout the summer to beat the heat while learning something neat!
The desert comes alive at night as nocturnal animals awake: Bats perform aerial acrobatics in pursuit of dinner, beavers splash around in their pond, and scorpions glow green under black light. Bring your flashlight and explore, jam out to live music, grab a local brew and wander, experience a live animal encounter, scamper in Packrat Playhouse, feel the touch of a stingray, or participate in special nightly activities. Click here for a weekly schedule of themes.
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Dig Into Fun:
Discover the Pima County Seed Library
The Pima County Library’s "Seed Library" is one of our region’s most enjoyable community resources—an easy, family‑friendly way to explore gardening, learn new skills, and grow something wonderful together.
The Seed Library offers a rotating collection of open‑pollinated and heirloom seeds you can borrow with your regular library card. Because the collection changes with donations and the seasons, every visit feels like a small treasure hunt. Check the website often for updates.
The program is all about helping our community rediscover the fun of planting, harvesting, and sharing. Families can borrow up to ten seed packets a month, either by stopping into participating library branches or reserving seeds online for pickup. Each packet is labeled “Easy” or “Advanced” for seed‑saving purposes, but everyone is encouraged to try whatever sparks curiosity—after all, gardening is one big, rewarding adventure.
While returning seeds isn’t required, the Seed Library happily accepts donated, open‑pollinated seeds to keep the cycle of sharing going. It’s a simple, hands‑on way to connect with nature, learn together, and help grow a more resilient desert garden community. Happy planting!
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WMG's River Run Network Creek Walk:
Explore the Cortaro Narrows
Saturday June 13th, 7 - 9:am
The Santa Cruz River has long been essential for flood protection, and earlier soil‑cement bank reinforcement helped safeguard nearby communities. When inspections revealed undercutting near Twin Peaks Road, the District planned seven new soil‑cement structures to stabilize the riverbed, maintain channel elevation, and strengthen long‑term flood safety. Phases 1 and 2 of the Pima County “Santa Cruz River Cortaro Narrows Training Structures” project are now complete and ready to view.
If you want to see the progress up close, join Watershed Management Group for a fun, informative river walk! Lauren Knight, River Run Network Program Manager, will lead the tour. You’ll also hear from Janice Hughes, PE, RG, and Matthew Lutheran, PLA, who will share what’s been accomplished so far and what’s coming next: stream restoration, grade‑control structures, revegetation, and invasive species removal.
Phase 3 begins in October, bringing even more restoration potential—from creating habitat for Sonora mud turtles to supporting native fish and expanding bird habitat. There’s so much possibility in this stretch of river, and they’re excited to show you what’s ahead.
Register here for this exciting walk and explore this evolving stretch of river. See for yourself how restoration is transforming the Santa Cruz into a thriving, resilient desert waterway.
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WMG Presents
Sacred Waters Speaking ...
Are We Listening?
Tuesday June 16th,12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Join Watershed Management Group for a thought-provoking webinar on the critical state of the Colorado River, led by Agent of Change in Environmental Justice Fellows Kevin Patterson and Valerisa (Val) Gaddy, Watershed's own Community Conservation Program Director.
Explore the changes that happen when we move from viewing water as a resource to recognizing it as a relative. How understanding the personhood of rivers, might change our perspectives and support a more sustainable future for all?
This webinar promises to be informative, reflective, and inspiring—an opportunity to deepen your understanding of water, place, and responsibility.
Register here for this meaningful and transformative event.
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Help Support our mission to
Keep our Desert and Community
Livable and Thriving.
Your tax-deductible gift helps us protect water resources, assist community partners, and empower members to advocate for our environment.
Donations also fund newsletters, speaker events, and public forums.
Every contribution makes a difference!
Thank you for your support.
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