On May 6, 2026, the Coalition spoke at Oro Valley’s Town Council meeting in support of the town’s draft General Plan, OV’s Path Forward. The plan, approved by Council later that evening, guides the Town’s goals, policies, and actions for the next 10 years. It will now head to Oro Valley voters for final approval this November.
For more than 20 years, we’ve worked with Oro Valley on conservation planning for Arroyo Grande, a roughly 9,000-acre area west of the Ann Day Memorial Wildlife Bridge that the town hopes to annex from the Arizona State Land Department. This long-term work has helped shape a vision that balances future growth with wildlife connectivity and open-space conservation.
Building on that work, we’ve been engaged with town planners since March 2025 on the latest planning efforts for Arroyo Grande and Tangerine 808. Together, these landscapes encompass nearly 10,000 acres of Sonoran Desert that could play an important role in the region’s future of wildlife connectivity and open-space conservation. The map to the right shows the future growth areas Oro Valley hopes to annex, including Arroyo Grande and Tangerine 880.
Why Arroyo Grande Matters for Wildlife Connectivity
Through a collaborative, science-backed effort involving the Town of Oro Valley, Pima County, Arizona State Land Department, Sun City residents, environmental organizations, transportation planners, and wildlife experts, Oro Valley adopted the Arroyo Grande Special Area policy in 2008. The policy envisioned roughly 68% open space, including a designated 1km wide wildlife corridor totaling more than 6,000 acres. The corridor was intended to maintain an important connection between the Santa Catalina and Tortolita Mountains and to support the long-term effectiveness of the Ann Day Memorial Wildlife Bridge and the surrounding wildlife linkage network.
Research by the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and other partners identified this area as one of the most important wildlife linkages in Arizona due to its ecological significance and the intense development pressure it faces. Of 152 evaluated wildlife linkages statewide, the corridor ranked among the 16 highest-priority linkages and was identified as facing the greatest development pressure among those top-ranked areas. Follow-up research concluded that future urbanization should not occur within the linkage if wildlife movement is to remain functional over the longer them.
Looking Ahead at Tangerine 880
The nearby Tangerine 880 planning area is also an ecologically significant landscape, featuring mature ironwoods, dense saguaro habitat, riparian areas, and habitat for the endangered cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl. Oro Valley planners hope to preserve significant open space there as future planning progresses.
Continuing to Advocate for Open Space
The long-term vision for Arroyo Grande demonstrates how collaboration, community involvement, and years of conservation planning can help preserve wildlife connectivity and open space for Pima County’s future.
Protecting land in perpetuity means showing up to defend the same landscapes again and again. We’re especially grateful for Oro Valley’s continued commitment to protecting open space in Arroyo Grande. The Coalition will continue to advocate for these important landscapes as future planning moves forward.