Patrick Cavanaugh

Newest Marana Town Council Member

On Wednesday Nov 6^th, Living Desert Alliance Board Member, Patrick Cavanaugh was sworn in as the newest member of the Marana Town Council. In a ceremony held at the Council chambers, Patrick took the oath of office, culminating a successful campaign.

Patrick has lived in the Tucson area for 10 years, five of those years in Marana. An avid nature enthusiast and cyclist, he also volunteers as a rescuer of cacti and succulents for the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society.

Top priorities for his four-year term include strong support for public school education, economic growth, our first responders, and our natural resources. He welcomes new smart development, locating higher-density housing near existing density, and featuring accessible sidewalks, bike paths, and retail nearby—all while maintaining a safe and reliable water supply.

Congratulations Patrick! The citizens of Marana have gained a dedicated public servant ready to build a better future for all Marana residents and create a stronger, more vibrant community benefiting everyone.

Patrick Cavanaugh Town of Marana Home Page

Tucson Cactus and

Succulent Society

Volunteers Protecting our Native Plants

Last week’s LDA newsletter shared ways to protect our beautiful Sonoran Desert from illegal poaching and destruction of protected native plants. This week we are spotlighting the work of the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society (TCSS) and their efforts to save cacti and other native plants from being destroyed.

TCSS's mission is the study and protection of cacti and other succulents. They accomplish this through:

• Learning: Hands-on activities for volunteers as they develop and maintain garden areas of the Pima Prickly Park. Park Video.

• Teaching: Regular classes are posted on their website.

• Conservation: Rescue plants from areas under development where they would otherwise have been destroyed.

These efforts are supplemental to the on-site preservation required by development permits and Native Plant Protection Ordinances (NPPO) by moving cacti out of harm’s way.

Some rescued plants go home with volunteers, some are transplanted to Pima Prickly Park, and the rest are sold at TCSS sponsored plant sales. By selling rescued cactus at reasonable costs to the public, they not only save these native plants, but encourage homeowners to use native plants in their landscapes, saving water and preserving our Southern Arizona gene-pool.

To learn more about this amazing group,

how to join, volunteer, or donate, visit their website at

Tucson Cactus & Succulent Society - What We Do.

If you have a native plant that needs relocating, contact the TCSS. They will complete the permit process for you and relocate free of charge Phone them at (520) 256-2447 or Email: TCSS@TucsonCactus.org

Thank You! Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society

for all you do to

'Keep our Desert and Community Livable and Thriving'

Action Alert

RTA Next

Twenty Year Reginal Transportation Plan Under Review



The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), a state-established taxing district within Pima County, is hosting a series of RTA Next open house meetings now through to Dec. 17^th.

The purpose of the meetings are to collect public input to finalize a draft of a new $2.46 billion 20-year regional transportation plan. The current 20-year plan and tax funding sources are set to expire on June 30, 2026.

Unfortunately, the planned budget for wildlife linkage infrastructure was reduced from the original $50 million to just $25 million. That amount falls far short of the dollars needed to accomplish a critical wildlife crossing over I-10 to reconnect the Tucson and Tortolita Mountains, or crossings needed in other areas such as the I-19 south of Green Valley. (Review draft budget here). 

Here’s how you can help:

Let the RTA team know you support the full $50 million in funding for wildlife linkages.

• Attend an RTA Next open house.
• Submit a comment: Ask for full funding of the wildlife linkage infrastructure budget! 

Let your voice and ideas be heard!

Click below for more information

• RTA Next home page
• Updates and history on the RTA and wildlife linkages presented by Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection.

NOTE: Portions of this article are from the November 5^th Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection Action Alert Newsletter.

Family Saturday!

Beavers, Dams, & River Jams!



Saturday, November 16th,

9:00am - 12:00pm

Bring the kids and join the Water Shed Management Group’s Beavers, Dams, and River Jams event this Saturday, November 16 from 9:00am - 12:00pm.

You'll learn about the return of beavers to Tucson's rivers and what you can do to help them. Plus, participate in educational sessions and other fun activities.

Schedule of events:

• 9:00am - Program begins - ongoing scavenger hunt
• 10:00am - Song and story time, beaver activities
• 12:00pm - Program ends

This event is free for the whole family so, come on down!

Click here to learn more and to register on-line.

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