Living Desert Alliance
Keep our Desert and Community Livable and Thriving
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Living Desert Alliance
End of Year Message
This is the last regular newsletter of the year. Our team will be taking a holiday break returning the first week of January 2026. Before we go, our Board of Directors want to thank you for supporting the Living Desert Alliance in 2025. Your efforts, participation and tax‑deductible donations have fueled our mission to Keep our Desert and Community Livable and Thriving.
This year, your generosity helped us:
- To continue defending the Santa Rita Mountains from destructive mining proposals.
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Block harmful development projects, including a cell tower near Picture Rocks and the City of Tucson Project Blue Data Center.
- Rally communities through events like the Santa Rita BioBlitz, Tucson Energy Town Hall, and Climate Day at Pima Community College
- Educate citizens and leaders on water security, recycling, and sustainable growth.
- Support grassroots efforts against threats to wildlife, open spaces, and vulnerable communities.
These victories show the power of collective action—but there are still challenges ahead that remain urgent.
✨ Help us continue our mission to
Keep our Desert and Community Livable and Thriving.
Please consider donating a year‑end, tax‑deductible gift to sustain our newsletters, website, community outreach, and advocacy in 2026. Together, we can protect our desert, our neighbors, and our future.
Wishing everyone a happy and joyous holiday season.
With gratitude,
The Living Desert Alliance Board of Directors
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Marana Data Center Public Hearing
December 10th, 6pm,
Ed Honea
Marana Municipal Complex
The Town of Marana Planning Commission has announced plans for a public hearing on data center rezoning proposals. It will be held on December 10th, at 6 p.m. at the Ed Honea Marana Municipal Complex in the Council
Chambers
The applications submitted by Lazarus & Silvyn, P.C. on behalf of the property owners, propose:
- Rezoning properties from R-144 Single Family Residential to SP Specific Plan
- Creating the Luckett Road South and North Specific Plans and
- Amending the Make Marana 2040 General Plan land use designation from Employment to Master Planned Area.
Application Details:
This is your opportunity to learn details of the proposal, hear your neighbors and public officials speak about the project, and to voice your opinion.
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Marana ICE Detention Facility
2nd Forum Announced
Thursday, December 11, 6pm
Mountain View High School
On October 23rd, Pima County Supervisor, District 3, Jennifer Allen, and her office worked with several organizations to pull together a forum at Coyote Trails Elementary School. They wanted a community discussion of the likelihood the shuttered prison in Marana would become an ICE detention facility. The response was overwhelming. Over 350 people filled the space with energy as attendees engaged in discussion and posed questions to the expert panelists.
Since many questions are still unanswered and citizen concerns still need to be voiced, there will be another forum on December 11 at 6pm at Mountain View High School, 3901 W. Linda Vista Blvd. (in Marana near Thornydale). This forum will again be moderated by Supervisor Jen Allen and feature expert panelists on immigration, refugee rights, and detention centers. There will be information on what you can do and what the organizers against this detention center are doing to stop this.
Click here for a fact sheet on Management and Training Corp., the company planning to operate this detention center. Within that document are links to penalties they incurred for wage/hour and workplace health & safety violations, as well as a $5.8 million settlement for paid contract kickbacks and bribes to the then-Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Think about it.... Do we need an ICE detention facility in Marana? Does it improve our quality of life? Do we really want this type of corporation running one?
Please make time to attend.
Learn more about this center, its effect on our environment and how our community can work together to stop it.
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Tossing Batteries Into Your Trash is Riskey Business
What really happens when
batteries meet the bin
Christmas is just weeks away, and there will be many gifts and toys requiring batteries. But what do you do with them when they run out of juice?
A recent article in Housely, an online platform catering to home living and lifestyle, explains the risks and environmental impact of tossing batteries into your trash. Risks such as explosions, toxic leaks, disruption of recycle systems, and violations of local disposal laws.
The good news is, fixing it is simple most of the time. A few small habits can protect your home, your community, and the planet.
Check out these links to learn not only how to dispose of batteries but also other hazardous landfill materials and waste.
You can also check out Call2Recyle a federal recycling program that has battery collection centers all over the country. You can search for a battery recycling location near you using the Call2Recycle website.
Keep in mind that many national hardware and big box stores have battery recycling programs. Home Depot and Lowe's, for example, partner with Call2Recycle to provide drop-off locations around the country.
More info from Common Sense Home for those who like the deep dive.
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Elementary School Students
Help Tucson Reach
Zero-Waste Goals
A community partnership establishing a circular economy driven by composting
News AZPM reports that Tucson students are actively participating in a city-led initiative, 'From Scraps to Soil,' aimed at reducing food waste and promoting sustainability.
This program, supported by federal funding, involves local schools and nonprofits to foster a circular economy and achieve Tucson's zero waste goals.
The project is also in partnership with the local nonprofit Iskashitaa Refugee Network, which will serve as a resource for employment, volunteering, and education. The nonprofit’s harvest program recovers up to 50 tons of local produce every year that would otherwise go to waste, according to Amelia Natoli, the acting director.
Click here to review the entire AZPM report and learn details about the exciting things our school kids will be learning and practicing at home and throughout their lives.
Click here to learn more about zero waste composting in your own home.
Photo: News AZPM
| | Community Event Reminders! | | |
2025 Annual
San Pedro
Bi-National
Beaver Survey
Final Event
Saturday, December 6th
Through the River Run Network, the Watershed Management Group (WMG) has been working to survey beaver populations along the San Pedro River on both sides of the border, and you can help!
Join in the search for signs of beavers, all while taking in the beautiful views the Upper San Pedro / San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA) has to offer. Be part of a team in a bi-national effort to further understand beaver activity in Southern Arizona and Sonora, Mexico.
Click below to learn more about these important events!
Photo by David Manual
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Marana 2026
Hiking Challenge
Marana’s 14th Edition MOVE Across 2 Ranges Hiking Challenge is set for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
As their website states, “This event is an awesome way to explore nature and get active. Hit the trails and experience the challenge and beauty of Southern Arizona's Tortolita and Catalina Mountains in one day! Trail run, hike, or stroll through this fun event. Join us for another year of fun and adventure.”
Starting at the Wild Burro Trailhead - 14810 N. Secret Spring Road, (trailhead located inside the Ritz-Carlton gate) attendees can register for different participation levels ranging from Mighty to Major to Mega to Massive, depending on skill levels and experience.
Register now to reserve a space for this exciting Sonoran Desert event.
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