COMMUNITY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: MARANA PARKS & RECREATION

by Dan Collins and Dave DeGroot

Whether your interests and abilities as a Sonoran Desert naturalist lean towards education and interpretation, citizen science, or stewardship, Marana Parks & Recreation offers ample opportunities for Arizona Master Naturalists (AZMN) to volunteer in ongoing programs and special events.  Activities are currently held on the beautiful Tortolita Mountain Trails, the expanding facilities at the Tortolita Preserve, and the recently renovated wetlands of El Rio Preserve, as detailed herein.

Tortolita Mountain Trails: With the Wild Burro Trailhead parking lot and facilities located just beyond the gated entrance of the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, the 29 miles of trails in the Tortolita Mountains transverse Cochie, Wild Burro, and Ruelas Canyons and the scenic mountain ranges separating them.  The trails are well-maintained by the Town of Marana, and offer grand vistas highlighting spectacular crested saguaros, ancient Hohokam petroglyphs and grinding stones, and line shacks constructed by ranchers a century ago.

AZMN naturalists Dan Collins and Matthew Woodhall currently provide interpretation for Guided Hikes in the Tortolitas, with Dave DeGroot and Paul Stillman also volunteering in the past.  On the second Saturday of each month – from October through April – a dozen or more hikers may participate in these easy to moderate level hikes.  Nighttime hikes are also held in June and September.  Working alongside Marana Parks and Recreation staff, who serve as the lead and tail guides, naturalists make frequent stops for educational and interpretive opportunities – sharing about the flora, fauna, geology, climate, and cultural history of the Sonoran Desert.  

These Saturday hikes have become so popular that weekday hikes have been recently added; Matthew leads an Educational Hike, centered on the unique climate conditions and species adaptations that contribute to the rich biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert.  Additionally, Jared Suydam, Environmental Education Program Coordinator with Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources, guides an Ethnobotany Hike – a fascinating look at how humans have utilized desert plants for necessities like food, shelter and medicine. 

Tortolita Preserve:  The 2,400 acre Tortolita Preserve lies just southwest of the Tortolita Mountains – the main entrance located at 6250 West Moore Road.  With 9 miles of trails over flat and gently sloping natural desert, the Preserve is popular for walking, hiking, easy mountain biking, horseback riding, bird watching, and nature photography (no off-road vehicles allowed). Within the past year, Marana has added a xeriscaped parking lot, portable restrooms and fencing.  Future planned improvements include expanding the trail system to include two larger loops, with a third smaller loop designed as an interpretive trail. 

AZMN naturalists first became involved with the Tortolita Preserve in November, 2022 and again in April, 2023 when Marana Parks and Recreation joined with a number of local environmental groups to conduct BioBlitz events to catalog plants and animals in the Preserve. Dozens of Master Naturalists participated. The resulting document, published online by AZMN’s Dave DeGroot, was a first-ever look at the hundreds of plants and animals that make their home in the Preserve – from solitary velvet ants (a species of wasp) to large mule deer and pumas. The two BioBlitz events riveted attention on the Preserve and encouraged ongoing public appreciation of this unique desert ecosystem. 

Currently, Marana offers a Nature Trek in the Preserve, led by AZMN naturalist Vicki Ettleman and Pima County naturalist Sandy Reith.  Marana Parks and Recreation describes this Thursday nature walk as “a morning of guided exploration, wandering among the stately saguaros as we watch for birds and other wildlife that make their homes in this beautiful patch of native desert vegetation”. 

El Rio Preserve:  Now a year-round wetlands rivaling that of the Sweetwater Wetlands, El Rio preserve is located off Silverbell Road, just north of Los Morteros, the Hohokam archeological site.  This Preserve protects 104 acres of riparian habitat along the Santa Cruz River and The Loop multi-use path, connecting 137 miles around the community.  Amenities include picnic tables under a shade ramada, interpretive signage, and a railed viewing deck that overlooks the wetlands.

Along migratory routes for many North American bird species, Marana’s website states that “nearly 250 bird species have been identified at the El Rio Preserve.  Among these are egrets, vireos, cormorants, warblers, mallards, and hummingbirds, all of which flock to the lush oasis the Preserve provides. In addition to birds, the preserve’s wetlands provide refuge for a variety of mammals, reptiles, and insects”.  This amazing biodiversity in the Preserve is reflected in the many programs offered here.

Vicki Ettleman and Sandy Reith lead a nature program geared for all ages; Lizards and Other Critters is a guided walk “in search of lizards, snakes, birds, small mammals, and other desert wildlife that call El Rio Preserve home”.  Also, AZMN Naturalist Summer Marshall does her own Nature Trek here, exploring the distinct plant and animal communities of this Sonoran Desert riparian habitat.

So, what would a birding hot-spot be without Jeff Babson, Pima County’s Environmental Education Specialist, offering his unique humor to his expertise and insights?  Jeff conducts a Birding program at the Preserveon Tuesday mornings, in addition to a seasonal program on dragonflies, entitled Dragons and Damsels.

Lastly, Dave DeGroot has assisted Marana in hosting student field trips around El Rio’s lake by supervising a Petroglyph Study Station. He sets up a viewing station near one of the petroglyph sites at the base of the mountains. Dave, a retired teacher, says he thoroughly enjoys introducing students to the concept that “others made their homes here, long before we came along.”  

Perhaps you would be interested in bringing your own naturalist program to one of these great outdoor venues, or volunteering in one of the ongoing programs already offered.  Marana is especially in need of adding more AZMN volunteers to the longer Guided Hikes in the Tortolitas, so they can also offer a second, shorter hike option, such as on the December and January Petroglyph Hikes.  A great way to explore these opportunities is to register for these or other programs on the Marana Parks & Recreation website.  Also, you can find complete information and contacts on the Volunteer Job Description form.