The Fight to Save the Santa Ritas Continues!



Important Events &

Major Rally Planned

The fight to Save the Scenic Santa Rita Mountains and surrounding communities from being devastated by the Hudbay/Copperworld Mining conglomerate continues with multiple events.

They include:

• Sign-Making Party: Tuesday, March 4th and Friday, March 7th, in Corona de Tucson. Signs made at these parties will be used for the May 3rd downtown Tucson rally listed below. Click here to request location information for the March 4th party. The March 7th event will be held at Sycamore Canyon Park is 17362 S Rustling Leaf Trail, Vail 85641. Join their Facebook page for additional information.

• Santa Rita Mountains Oak Tree Canyon Hike: Saturday, March 8. Join the Borderlands program and Save The Scenic Santa Ritas for a guided hike. You will learn about the Copper World mining permit that if approved will change this landscape forever, negatively effecting the biodiversity and surrounding communities of this beautiful mountain range. Register here.

• BioBlitz along the ancient Barrel Canyon Aquifer: Sunday, March 23rd. Participants of this Bioblitz, hosted by Great Old Broads for Wilderness, will use the respected iNaturalist app to document magnificent old-growth trees, as well as plants and animals in this vibrant understory ecosystem. And – who knows? – find a threatened/endangered species. This may be the last opportunity to document plant and animal species in Barrel Canyon. Additional information in upcoming newsletters. Click here to register.

• Downtown Tucson Rally: May 3rd. Save the Scenic Santa Ritas asks you to join them, and other opponents of the Copper World Mine from around the region on May 3rd from 2-4 pm at the Congress/Granada area of downtown Tucson. Signs, media coverage, and short speeches will raise public awareness. Many southern Arizona environmental organizations and community leaders are joining to create this loud, clear, unified outcry against Hudbay’s Copper World Mine. Visit their Facebook Page to learn more and stay up to date on this important event. More to come!

Reserve these dates & show up!

Your participation in any of these events sends a strong message of support to those who oppose this mine. It also sends a loud protest to Hudbay/ Copperworld mining conglomerate, telling them we are watching and are aware of their underhanded tactics and outright deceit.

We can’t let this happen!

The trees, plants, animals and people living in this area need your support. Attend these events! There is power in numbers. 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.

Please forward this newsletter to anyone you feel would like to participate in these events.

Conservation Lands and Resources

Committed to the stewardship & enhancement of our county conservation lands.

The Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources (CLR) Department merges conservation functions from the Office of Sustainability and Conservation with the Natural Resources Division of the Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Department.

Their Mission Statement:

We’re committed to the stewardship and enhancement of our county conservation lands, as well as facilitating development in alignment with the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP), Multi-Species Conservation Plan (MSCP), board policies, and other regulatory frameworks. We employ science-based conservation strategies and foster public engagement through education and recreation while maintaining the ecological and cultural integrity of Indigenous and historic-era sites, mountain parks, trails, ranches, and other County conservation lands.

CLR offers environmental education programs for all ages, interests, and abilities, including nature walks and hikes, birding and other wildlife watching, historical tours, field study programs for students, and nature play. They strive to balance stewardship of our cultural and natural resource heritage with efforts to maintain an economically vigorous and fiscally responsible and resilient community. 

Explore their website to learn more about their educational and conservation programs and how you can use your skills to become involved in achieving their mission and protecting Pima County's environment.

Recycling Facts

For Kids

Share these important facts with your kids and grandkids.

Get them started on the path to sustainability!

Invite your kids over to your computer and share this information. A great way to bond while educating them on the importance of recycling.

• Recycling is important because it saves energy, but also because it can save our air, land, and water from pollution.

• Making new things creates a whole lot of pollution, and continuing to make new things just increases this number further. It's always best to reuse when you can and recycle when you can't.

• Recycling puts used items back into the "cycle" – and recycling an object doesn’t take as much energy as it does to make a brand new one from scratch.

• Trash can be very harmful to the environment. For example, small sea animals often get stuck in plastic rings like the ones that hold sodas cans and bottles together. People normally just throw them away without a thought. Next time, cut the loops open, then recycle them. This will save thousands of animals each year.

We'd love to hear back!

How did your talks go? What questions did they ask? What are young people saying and thinking about recycling and sustainability. We'll share any comments received (not names, just comments) in future newsletters.

Living Lab & Learning Center Tour

Saturday, March 8, 2025 - 10:00am to 12:00pm

Register below to join the Living Desert Alliance leadership team for a tour of the Watershed Management Group's Living Lab and Learning Center located at 1137 N Dodge Blvd Tucson.

The tour is being held at their premier demonstration site showcasing various water harvesting strategies and sustainable living practices for arid landscape living. They are proud that almost 100% of their water needs are met with rainwater, greywater, and stormwater recycling. A great opportunity to learn how to encompass these practices into your own home and lifestyle.

Bring the kids to enjoy the Raindrop Retreat – a children’s playhouse featuring a rain tank, play kitchen with greywater, and sandbox. 

The tour takes place outside, so be prepared to be standing and/or walking for over an hour and in all weather.

Click here to register for this educational and fun event!

See you there!

MEET MARANA'S NEW MAYOR

Tuesday, March 11, 5:30 - 7:00 pm

The Highlands at Dove Mountain Clubhouse

The Dove Mountain Civic Group and the Highlands at Dove Mountain are joining together to offer area residents an opportunity to meet Marana’s new Mayor, Jon Post.

Join them to hear the Mayor’s vision for Marana and ask questions about the issues you care most about.

Mayor Post is looking forward to building relationships across Marana and is eager to meet with the residents of Dove Mountain.

Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum

Beat Back Buffalo Grass

February marks the beginning of a series of volunteer events to combat invasive plants such as buffelgrass, stinknet and arundo sponsored by the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum.

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 events.