Sign to support creation of Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge

Sign on to support the creation of the Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge that would protect the river corridor in perpetuity from the area South and North of the San Xavier District in Santa Cruz and Pima Counties.

The ecologically and culturally rich Santa Cruz River flows through the heart of Tucson. After generations of colonization and groundwater overuse, the surface flow stopped running in some areas, with flows all but drying up except during heavy seasonal rains. In 2012, Pima County approved funding to vastly improve the quality of wastewater effluent that was being released into the Santa Cruz River. By upgrading the wastewater treatment facilities—which currently release highly treated wastewater into the Santa Cruz—local leaders, alongside restoration volunteers, created over 25 miles of vibrant habitat that has been foundational to the recovery of native vegetation, wildlife, insects, and migratory bird species.

The Santa Cruz corridor offers abundant recreation opportunities, including birdwatching at Sweetwater Wetlands and cycling and walking along the beloved 137-mile Chuck Huckelberry Loop, a popular paved recreation trail with dozens of access points that runs alongside the Santa Cruz and its major tributaries.

The vision for the urban national wildlife refuge includes an archipelago of protected properties along the Santa Cruz River that would offer permanent wildlife habitat and outdoor access. The Tucson land would anchor this “string of pearls,” offering shade, river access, and outdoor education for the neighboring communities. The Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge draws inspiration and lessons from current exemplary restoration work happening along the corridor, including the San Xavier District’s Wa:k Hikdan project.

Find the letter of support here:

https://santacruzriver.org/letter-of-support/

Note: Adding a personal note makes it even more impactful.

More information and refuge design: 

  https://santacruzriver.org/1469-2/

Santa Cruz named one of nation’s 10 most endangered rivers

https://azluminaria.org/2024/04/16/santa-cruz-river-is-one-of-nations-most-endangered-rivers/

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Urge your senator to oppose bad water & voting bills before Wed.

Here are two actions from the Sierra Club. In addition to a terrible water bill, there is one that weakens our ability to vote. That will make it even more difficult to advocate for environmental issues and human rights. 

The Senate Elections Committee approved a strike-everything amendment on HCR2056 on Thursday. The amendment requires onsite tabulation of ballots on Election Day, limits the drop off of early ballots after 7pm on the Friday before the election, and requires identification to drop off any early ballot on Election Day. If passed, this would hinder voting, especially for Tribal and rural communities, create longer lines at the polls, and cost a great deal more than the $11 million that has been appropriated. Call your senator and ask them to vote no on HCR2056.

You can find senators' contact information here.

The Senate also tried to jam through a terrible water bill this week and unfortunately had the backing of the Governor to do it. On Tuesday, Senator Sine Kerr (R) offered a 28-page amendment on HB2201, which was already a bad bill. Her amendment made it much worse -- a Christmas Tree of bad bills written by and for developers, land speculators, private water companies, and two places -- Buckeye and Queen Creek -- that want the rules changed to get around the groundwater modeling and create big exemptions to the assured water supply program, so they can keep building the same old sprawl development. Believe me, we are not talking about affordable housing.

Thank you to Senate Democrats for standing strong against this bill. It was defeated 13-11-6, but it will be back for reconsideration next Wednesday. The development interests and the governor's office are lobbying hard to get this bill through, so we need senators to know that their constituents do not support it.
 

Please take action below and tell your senator to vote no on HB2201!

https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/Arizona?actionId=AR0442640

Sign on to support Santa Cruz River becoming a wildlife refuge

The Santa Cruz River made this year’s American Rivers Most Endangered Rivers list. This list identifies rivers in need of additional protections based on water availability, water cleanliness and other factors. The Santa Cruz River was named due to threats from climate change and water scarcity. See what makes the Santa Cruz River important here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2lOGJL0NOg

To help protect this river, Sonoran Institute partnered with Tucson Audubon Society for a clean-up where 6,000 pounds of waste was removed from the Santa Cruz River. In addition, the Santa Cruz River team has also partnered with the Santa Cruz River Refuge coalition to expand protections for the fragile yet resilient Santa Cruz River from the border through Santa Cruz and Pima Counties.

Please visit this website and sign on to Support the Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge:

https://santacruzriver.org/letter-of-support/

Take Action to Oppose Resolution Copper Water Permit that will deplete our water and devastate majestic Oak Flat

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First the good news...Governor Hobbs vetoed three more harmful energy and water bills that were passed at the AZ legislature along party lines.  

HB2063 exempt wells; certificate; groundwater use (Griffin) would have required the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to issue a certificate of water rights to those with exempt wells (35 gallons per minute or less) that register with the well with ADWR. This would have served to increase rather than decrease pumping.

HB2124 agricultural operations; water; protection; definition (Smith) would have required the court to award attorneys' fees for nuisance claims related to groundwater pumping. This was another bill to protect big pumpers at the expense of those harmed who may have few tools available to them to challenge the pumping.

HB2591 forced labor; child labor; prohibitions (Biasiucci: Dunn, Kolodin, et al.) would have prohibited public power entities, public service corporations, and public entities from engaging in or renewing contracts to procure land, electric vehicles, utility scale batteries, or solar panels from individuals or businesses employing forced labor or oppressive child labor. The bill also mandates that automobile manufacturers furnish certification ensuring compliance with these standards for contracts involving electric vehicles and associated components. While we support prohibiting all of those activities, this is better addressed federally for all products. This bill singles out a few.

Please call the Governor at 602-542-4331 to say thank you to her for vetoing these bills.

Take Action to Oppose Resolution Copper Water Permit

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has released a Public Notice that it intends to issue an Individual Industrial Recycled Water Permit to Resolution Copper Mining. The permit would allow Resolution Copper to deliver water obtained from the dewatering of their mine facilities at Oak Flat and near Superior to the New Magma Irrigation and Drainage District where it would be mixed with water coming from the Colorado River via the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal and used for irrigation.

Allowing Resolution Copper to pump the water out of the mine shaft and mix it with CAP water to irrigate crops and doing so under weak permitting, is just one more way this mine is harming the region.
 

Please sign on to this petition asking ADEQ to reject this permit renewal.
The Sierra Club will deliver the petition to ADEQ on May 7th.

https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/Arizona?actionId=AR0438546

Help PLAN TUCSON for our city's future

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND GET INVOLVED:
JOIN PLAN TUCSON FOR A COMMUNITY FORUM

Plan Tucson invites all community members to participate in our upcoming Community Forums, a crucial step in updating the City’s General Plan. This long-range policy document is central to defining the future of Tucson, addressing vital areas such as housing, transportation, climate action, and growth.

These forums will be the last public meetings for Phase 2 of the Plan Tucson Update and the best opportunity to provide critical feedback on policy guidance that will impact how the city addresses housing, sustainability, equity, transportation, and much more before the first draft of the plan is written. Your input will also help update our Future Growth Scenario Map, guiding where and what type of development is encouraged across the city.

Virtual Forum
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

REGISTER HERE

In-Person Forum
Saturday, May 18, 2024
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Ward 2 Office, 7820 E. Broadway Blvd.

REGISTER HERE

Both community forums will have prizes, and the in-person event will have food and family-friendly activities.

The Plan Tucson Community Forums aren’t just about shaping policy - they’re about building a better community. The more feedback we receive, the better the plan reflects our shared values and aspirations.

For more information about Plan Tucson and an overview on what has happened through Phase 1 and Phase 2, visit plantucson.tucsonaz.gov.

COMPARTE SUS IDEAS Y PARTICIPA:
ÚNETE CON PLAN TUCSON EN UN FORO COMUNITARIO

Plan Tucson invita a todos los miembros de la comunidad a participar en nuestros próximos Foros Comunitarios, un paso crucial en la actualización del Plan General de la Ciudad. Este documento de política a largo plazo es fundamental para definir el futuro de Tucson, abordando áreas vitales como vivienda, transporte, acción climática y crecimiento.

Estos foros serán las últimas reuniones públicas para la Fase 2 de la Actualización del Plan Tucson y la mejor oportunidad para proporcionar comentarios críticos sobre la orientación política que impactará cómo la ciudad aborda la vivienda, la sostenibilidad, la equidad, el transporte y mucho más antes de que se escriba el primer borrador del plan. Su aporte también ayudará a actualizar nuestro Mapa de Crecimiento Futuro, guiando dónde y qué tipo de desarrollo se fomenta en toda la ciudad.

Foro Virtual
Martes 14 de mayo de 2024
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

REGÍSTRESE AQUÍ

Foro Presencial
Sábado 18 de mayo de 202
10 a.m. - 12 p.m
Oficina del Distrito 2, 7820 E. Broadway Blvd.

REGÍSTRESE AQUÍ

Ambos eventos tendrán premios, y el evento presencial contará con comida y actividades familiares.

Los Foros Comunitarios del Plan Tucson no solo se tratan de dar forma a políticas, sino de construir una comunidad mejor. Cuantos más comentarios recibamos, mejor reflejará el plan nuestros valores y aspiraciones compartidos.

Para obtener más información sobre Plan Tucson y una descripción general de lo que ha ocurrido en la Fase 1 y la Fase 2, visite plantucson.tucsonaz.gov.

 

Project Contact

Cesar Acosta, Principal Planner
cesar.acosta2@tucsonaz.gov