About this section :
NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS SERVES TUBAC AND SANTA CRUZ COUNTY ARIZONA. SHANNON HALL, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
To see the county notices go to :
https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov.
To post a notice or announcement, forward it by Thursday Noon for weekend edition email delivery (via Jpeg format) to tubacweekly@gmail.com
Tubac Weekly is a news resourse for our community- please share important notices.
QUESTIONS, CALL 310-924-0363
– In the shadow of Mount Wrightson and within view of the Santa Cruz River’s footprint at Historic Canoa Ranch, officials from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region, Pima County, Santa Cruz County, and the City of Tucson gathered Nov. 21 to sign a memorandum of understanding to establish the Santa Cruz River Wildlife Partnership (SCRWP).
The agreement enables the four governmental entities to work more formally toward common objectives such as environmental education, outreach and programs while protecting a vital wildlife corridor that runs through both counties. It’s the first such national wildlife partnership the national agency has established in the state of Arizona.
“Protecting the Santa Cruz River and the area that surrounds it is a key component of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan,” said Pima County Board of Supervisors Chair Adelita S. Grijalva. “By establishing this partnership, we will be better positioned in the future to take advantage of opportunities to protect the Santa Cruz when they present themselves.”
Formally establishing the SCRWP is the first step toward creating an Urban National Wildlife Refuge (UNWR) along the Santa Cruz River, the ultimate goal of the grassroots coalition that formed in 2023. In addition to protecting the waters of the Santa Cruz, a UNWR would boost equitable access to the outdoors for the hundreds of thousands of people that live along the river.
For Grijalva, the connection to the area is personal.
“My tata worked this land,” said Grijalva, whose father, Congressman Raul Grijalva, spent his early childhood living at Canoa Ranch. She noted that 25 years ago the Pima County Board of Supervisors agreed to protect the historic site from development.
“If they hadn’t had that foresight, we wouldn’t be here in this beautiful space today.”
Martha Williams, USFWS director, flew in from Washington to be part of the ceremony. “I feel honored to be here and recognize this critical moment,” she said.
Amy Lueders, USFWS Southwest Regional Director, echoed that sentiment.
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proud to be part of this amazing grassroots, community-driven partnership," said Lueders. “We look forward to collaborating with the City of Tucson, Pima County, Santa Cruz County, and local communities to foster cooperative efforts to explore and create opportunities to improve access to nature and advance conservation.”
Over the course of the past year, both the Pima County and Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors have approved items supporting the creation of a UNWR. The Pima County Board of Supervisors passed a proclamation encouraging the community to support the designation, and the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution calling on U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to create the refuge.
"The collaboration between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, both Santa Cruz and Pima counties, and the City of Tucson represents a unique opportunity to enhance our local economies and our natural resources,” said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce Bracker. “By investing in wildlife habitat restoration and educational outreach, we are creating a more inviting landscape for nature tourism, which will drive economic growth for local businesses and create jobs in Southern Arizona.”
As one of America’s longest continually inhabited regions, the Santa Cruz River Valley’s identity is anchored in the diverse ecosystems and its long history of cultural diversity. The creation of the SCRWP will not only preserve history for future generations but also celebrate it in a way that honors a region with traces of human life dating back more than 12,000 years.
“I want to thank Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and the Biden-Harris administration for putting people at the center of a vision to care for and restore our public lands and waters,” said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero.
“There has been so much history, and it has taken a lot of willing partnerships and local community work to create this restorative vision we are celebrating today. I am thankful for the stewardship of Austin Nunez, Chairman of the San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation and the late Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías, who have paid close attention to the health of the river.”
Photo caption: Pictured from left to right, as part of the MOU signing ceremony, were Kevin Dahl, Ward 3 Council Member, City of Tucson; Martha Williams, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director; Amy Lueders, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwest Regional Director; Bruce Bracker, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors; and Adelita S. Grijalva, Chair, Pima County Board of Supervisors.
Nogales, Arizona, November 7, 2024 - The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Supervisor Bruce Bracker has been honored as a "Transportation Hero" at the 25th Annual Arizona Rural Transportation Summit in October.
The Arizona Rural Transportation Summit brings together local and state government officials, transportation professionals, and legislators to collaborate on solutions for improving transportation across Arizona. The summit was hosted by the Central Arizona Metropolitan Planning Organization (CYMPO).
Bracker was recognized for his significant contributions to regional transportation and infrastructure, Supervisor Bracker’s leadership has brought numerous critical projects to life, enhancing connectivity, safety, and economic opportunities for Santa Cruz County and beyond.
Key Accomplishments:
1. DeConcini Port of Entry Feasibility Study
* Supervisor Bracker championed the feasibility study at the DeConcini Port of Entry, which is now underway and projected to complete in December 2024. This study aims to enhance international trade efficiency and security.
2. SR-189 / Mariposa Road Flyover Project
* Instrumental in securing this major project, Supervisor Bracker proposed a cost-sharing model with the county, which helped complete the SR-189 / Mariposa Road Flyover in Spring 2023.
3. Ruby Road Grade-Separated Crossing
* Supervisor Bracker was key in securing $16.5 million in funding for the grade-separated crossing over the railroad and Potrero Creek at Ruby Road. The groundbreaking is scheduled for Spring 2025.
4. Federal Grant for Ruby Road and Potrero Creek Crossing
* Through determined advocacy, Supervisor Bracker helped secure a federal grant for a grade-separated bridge over the railroad and Potrero Creek, addressing safety and traffic flow concerns for the Ruby Road corridor.
5. All-Weather Crossing on Pendleton Drive
* Completed in Spring 2023 with a $2.3 million grant and ARPA funds, this project has improved safety and access across Sonoita Creek.
6.
Major Funding for SR83 and Local Roads
* Supervisor Bracker secured $9 million to rebuild SR83 from Lower Elgin Road to Los Encinos and an additional $8.6 million for improvements to Ruby Road, Rio Rico Drive, and the East Frontage Road.
7. AZ Smart Grant and Inclusion in 5-Year Transportation Plan
* Under Supervisor Bracker’s advocacy, the Arizona Department of Transportation awarded a $3.5 million AZ Smart Grant for designing the Ruby Road, Rio Rico Drive, and East Frontage Road Interchange. These projects are now included in the ADOT 5-year plan, solidifying their importance for regional mobility.
“It’s an honor to receive this recognition, but more than that, it’s a testament to the strength of our partnerships with the Greater Nogales Santa Cruz County Port Authority and the Arizona Department of Transportation, as well as the commitment of our community. These projects represent Santa Cruz County’s resilience and our dedication to creating safer, more accessible roads for everyone,” said Supervisor Bracker.
Supervisor Bracker's infrastructure improvements will benefit Santa Cruz County residents, businesses, and visitors for years, leaving a strong foundation for future leaders to build upon and ensuring enhanced connectivity and safety across the region.
### END ###
Photo Credit: Greater Nogales Santa Cruz County Port Authority X Social Media Account, @PortNogales<https://x.com/PortNogales/status/1849505558103232906/photo/1> <https://x.com/PortNogales/status/1849505558103232906/photo/1>
A big THANK YOU to everyone who attended WATER THINK last week! We had over 160 people there and it was a tremendous evening where we learned some vitally important information about the present state of water in our area and what the future might hold for us. You can find a link to the presentations from that evening below so you can refresh your memory. You can count on the Calabasas Alliance to continue bringing critical information to you about the threats to our natural resources, especially our water.
We wish you and yours a happy Thanksgiving. We live in one of the most beautiful and diverse areas in the world and have so much for which we can be grateful. May your eyes be open to the beauty of the world around us.
Sincerely,
Your Friends in the Calabasas Alliance
Contact us with any questions at: info@calabasasalliance.org
CONTINUED BELOW
Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James Robinson received the prize for their work on explaining inequality between countries.The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award Sveriges Riksbank Prize in economic sciences in memory of Alfred Nobel for 2024 to Daron Acemoglu, MIT, Cambridge, USA. Simon Johnson, MIT, Cambridge, USA. And James Robinson, University of Chicago, USA. For studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity.
LINK FOR NOGALES INTERNATIONAL NEWSPAPER ON THE NOTICES PAGE at the BOTTOM-
Thank you to Frances Causey for forwarding this news article..
AZ Speaks are 60-minute presentations hosted by non-profits, libraries, educational institutions, governmental and tribal entities to engage the public in humanities-based topics.
*Please note that all times listed are local to Arizona MST*
Dorothy Powell Senior Center - Casa Grande, AZ
“The Story Hour” with Akua Duku Anoyke
Salzar-Ajo Library - Ajo, AZ
Santa Cruz County, in partnership with the Tubac Fire District, is nearing completion of a new 180-foot communication tower at Tubac Fire Station #1. This critical infrastructure project, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), represents a significant boost to public safety communications, benefiting multiple agencies throughout the region. The new tower will also serve as a key component in the county's broader communication network, providing residents with more reliable broadband and cellphone coverage.
The project began when Tubac Fire Chief Ben Guerrero reached out to the county as the fire district prepared to demolish the old firehouse. This demolition included the costly task of relocating the aging 100-foot communication tower. Anticipating the financial challenge, Chief Guerrero proposed a collaboration that would benefit both the fire district and the county. Together, they conducted a radio study to assess local communication needs, revealing several dead spots that compromised safety. This led to the decision to construct a new, taller 180-foot tower to improve coverage and enhance safety.
The partnership allowed the county and the fire department to share resources and reduce expenses. "One of the greatest advantages of working together on this project was that we met the needs of both our organizations and the community while saving taxpayer money and eliminating the need for two towers in Tubac. This is a great example of how collaboration between stakeholders benefits the entire community,” said Fire Chief Guerrero.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Juan Balderas, Santa Cruz County CIO, emphasized, “By working closely with Supervisor Bracker and the Tubac Fire Department Board, all of whom were essential in making this project a reality, the County has taken another step toward enhancing the safety and security of its residents. This collaboration underscores the County’s commitment to building resilient infrastructure that serves the community's needs.” ###
This story is also available on the Santa Cruz County website<https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=158>.
Shannon Hall
Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35’s Aquatic Center had its soft opening on Saturday, August 24. Staff and faculty had the opportunity to splash around in the the new pool, swim some laps, dive from the diving boards, have some fun with their families near the splash pad, enjoy some lunch, and soak in the sunny day. The Aquatic Center and its amenities will be available to the public starting on Monday, September 2, 2024.
The public is welcome to come and swim, lay in the sun, socialize, and enjoy their day off at the new facility. Pool pass registration is required beforehand and can be completed here.
Southern Arizona residents, activists and organizations are teaming up with federal government officials to designate a portion of the Santa Cruz River as Arizona's first urban national wildlife refuge.
The federal designation would ensure the protection of the critical habitat for years into the future following its revitalization in recent years.
Prominent landowner Andrew Jackson, who possesses thousands of acres of critical habitat, is part of the effort. Following backlash last year in the town of Rio Rico for a rezoning request that residents feared would bring mining to their town, he began working with the Santa Cruz River Refuge coalition to help preserve some of his land that borders the river.
“It was kind of a call to action to put (the land) in the hands of somebody that can manage it and maintain that for a long time,” Jackson said, noting he's invested in regenerative farming practices and water conservation.
In September, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in collaboration with the Santa Cruz River Refuge coalition developed a landscape conservation design to start the process of proposing an "urban partnership" program in Tucson, and the potential for a new national wildlife refuge along the Santa Cruz River.
The agency manages over 100 wildlife refuges across the state, within 25 miles of population centers of 250,000 people or more. Just one urban wildlife refuge currently exists in the Southwest, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Santa Cruz River would be Arizona's first urban national wildlife refuge.
The Santa Cruz River Refuge coalition wants an “archipelago” of protected properties at risk of development along the Santa Cruz River, stretching from the U.S.-Mexico border to the northern edge of Pima County. Coalition members say this designation would offer permanent wildlife habitat, outdoor access, and ecotourism.
The protected area would include areas of upland Sonoran Desert scrub habitat, canyons that provide habitat connectivity, and nearly seven miles of riparian habitat approximately 40 miles south of Tucson.
Together, we represent thousands of Pima and Santa Cruz County residents who want to see the river corridor protected in perpetuity. The Santa Cruz River Refuge coalition recognizes that the Santa Cruz River has been a storied spiritual and cultural place for the Tohono O’odham and their distinct ancestors, and Pascua Yaqui people from time immemorial. We recognize that the people of the San Xavier District, in particular, have ancestral ties to the flowing Santa Cruz River and the lands around it. The original homeland of the O’odham and their ancestors, including the Hohokam and Early Agricultural People, is located on the river, which they collectively have stewarded for millennia. They continue to access these lands for ongoing cultural and religious practices.
The ecologically and culturally rich Santa Cruz River flows through the heart of Tucson, a fast-growing city of over 1 million people in the greater metropolitan area. 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.
Our vision for an urban national wildlife refuge imagines 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.
The Santa Cruz Humane Society is a no kill shelter that provides compassionate care and adoption services for homeless dogs and cats in Nogales, Arizona. Visit us and take home your new family member today!
SHOP and DONATE at our thrift store to help support our mission.
Please reach out to your Congressional Representative(s) and ask them to oppose H.R. 2925, the “Mining Regulatory Clarity Act” sometime this week, as it will be voted on next week.
THE MINING REGULATORY CLARITY ACT: THE LARGEST HANDOUT TO THE MINING INDUSTRY SINCE 1872
The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act represents an unprecedented giveaway of America’s cherished public lands to mining corporations, upending and reversing over a hundred years of public land law precedent. Under the bill, anyone—for a nominal fee—gains absolute rights to occupy land in perpetuity, construct massive waste dumps, and build roads and pipelines across public lands to the detriment of all other values. This would preclude all other types of development and use, including renewable energy projects, recreation, and traditional cultural uses.
The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act would undermine the federal government’s longstanding authority to safeguard public lands,threatening the protection of irreplaceable cultural, environmental, and economic resources. That’s because the bill conveys mining claimants with an absolute right to permanently occupy lands. If an alternative use—like an electric transmission line or a renewable energy project—needed to cross “claimed” public lands, mining companies could extract large sums of money from the federal government in exchange for giving up their claim.
Unintended consequences – this bill could easily be weaponized. A person wishing to block a solar or wind farm or transmission project could simply file a claim in the path or the project and would be conveyed an absolute right to block it from moving forward.
Under Section 2(e)(1)(B), mining companies would receive a statutory right to permanently occupy and bury our federal public lands under tons of toxic waste. Further, Section 2(e)1(A) grants mining companies automatic rights-of-way for new pipelines, transmission lines, and roads across public lands—eliminating a central provision of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) that requires mining companies to receive a permit for such uses just like every other industry operating on public lands. Section 2(e)(2) would also eliminate FLPMA’s requirement that the company pay “fair market value” for using public lands for these facilities.
The Mining Regulatory Clarify Act was authored in reaction to recent court decisions that affirmed and enforced longstanding law. According to proponents of this egregious corporate handout, the need from this bill arises from ac our case known as Rosemont, as well as two subsequent federal court rulings, where a company proposed using invalid mining claims to dump enormous quantities of waste generated at the mine site. Their solution was to assert a right to dump water on thousands of acres of public lands, despite any valid mining claims. The problem with that was obvious and courts blocked them: holding an invalid mining claim confers no right to use or occupy the lands covered by the claim unless a valuable mineral is discovered.
This bill would tip the scales away from communities, the environment, and our clean energy future--giving the mining industry the power to dictate how we use our public lands. Instead, Congress should work to balance our nation's clean energy mineral needs with all other public land uses, such as for renewable energy projects, cultural and historical resources, ranching, recreation, water resources, and wildlife.
Let's do our part == contact your legislators by clicking on the link below. Let them know that you OPPOSE the Mining Regulatory Act. Find and contact elected officialsI
How you can help
1. If you are reading our newsletter for the first time and would like to subscribe click here.
2. Find us on social media, hit follow, and share our content on your page.
3. Visit our website to learn more ways to get involved.
4. Make a donation to PARA. Every little bit of it goes a long way.
Tubac Community Center 50 BRIDGE RD
Nami Southern Arizona branch - A Mental Health Non Profit Organization
Our LOCAL ADVOCACY GROUP keeping TUBAC Beautiful & Safe- Meets 2ND Monday AT 9AM TCC- Long Room
Copyright © 2024 tubacweekly.com - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy Website Builder