Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection

October 4, 2018

New Game and Fish monitoring report documents over 4,400 animals using Oracle Road wildlife crossings in first 2 years

The Arizona Game and Fish Department recently released their latest monitoring report on the Oracle Road wildlife bridge and underpass. Game and Fish is in the middle of four years of post-construction monitoring of these wildlife crossings. According to the report, as of June 2018, 2,477 animals have used the wildlife bridge and 1,941 animals […]

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Oracle Road Wildlife Bridge named for former Pima County Supervisor Ann Day

  The Oracle Road wildlife bridge has a new name. On August 8, 2018, the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names approved the re-naming of the Sonoran Desert’s first wildlife bridge to the Ann Day Memorial Wildlife Bridge. Ann Day served as a Pima County Supervisor from 2000 to 2012 and was a […]

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September 12, 2018

Friends of the Desert newsletter now available!

Our latest Friends of the Desert newsletter is now available! Click on the image to the right to access the digital version. If you’d like a print copy, please send us an email or give us a call at (520) 388-9925 and we’d be happy to put one in the mail!  In this issue: Celebrating […]

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August 13, 2018

Oro Valley’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Ordinance produces results

Bayer Vella, the Oro Valley Town Planning Manager, recently wrote an informative and exciting article for TucsonLocalMedia.com. Titled “Oro Valley Town Talk: Environmental Conservation values, balance, and results,” this article outlines the positive impacts from Oro Valley’s Environmentally-Sensitive Lands Ordinance (ESLO). In the article, Mr. Vella states, “How did the community determine the right balance […]

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Opposition to any proposed interstate in Avra Valley grows

The recently convened I-11 Joint Stakeholder Community Planning Group has released a press release and position statement opposing any proposed route for Interstate 11 in Avra Valley. The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection is a proud leader of this new community stakeholder group. The full press release is below: Citizens Convened by Federal and State […]

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August 7, 2018

A huge welcome to our new Conservation Science Director, Jessica Moreno!

The Coalition is excited to announce the hiring of our new Conservation Science Director, Jessica Moreno. Jessica has been working with the Coalition for the past year and a half as an Independent Contractor on a few specific wildlife linkages projects. She is going to be an important and valuable member of our team moving […]

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June 28, 2018

Saguaro National Park adds $88 million+ to local economy

According to a recent study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service, “…964,759 visitors to Saguaro National Park in 2017 spent $60,716,800 in Tucson and other communities near the park. That spending supported 866 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $88,682,500.” On […]

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Endangered Gila topminnow once again swims the Santa Cruz River

In fall 2017, local scientists had a surprising discovery in the Santa Cruz River – the return of the endangered Gila topminnow. This small inch-long fish is one of 44 species targeted by Pima County’s Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan. Scientists speculate that Pima County’s efforts to clean up the treated effluent that feeds this stretch […]

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Pima County open space and tax base impacts

In May 2018, Pima County released an important memo that explains succinctly why Pima County open space properties have a positive impact on the tax base. This was in response to an allegation made by Representative Vince Leach during the state legislative session that Pima County could receive more taxes if open space lands were […]

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Pima County purchases 3,200 acres of new open space

Great news! On June 19, 2018, the Pima County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of 3,200 acres of new open space on the east side of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The Tesoro Nueve Ranch contains parts of Buehman Canyon, an important tributary to the San Pedro River and a crucial wildlife linkage between the […]

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