Comments on the Town of Marana's Proposed Tortolita Preserve

August 20, 2004

Mr. Michael Reuwsaat, Town Manager
Town of Marana
13251 N. Lon Adams Drive
Marana, AZ 85653

Dear Mr. Reuwsaat:

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Town of Marana's "Proposed Tortolita Preserve Expansion: An Opportunity for Partnering Conservation and Economic Development," prepared for the Town by Leslie Liberti of SWCA. Our comments are intended to help guide the Town toward a successful Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and related conservation efforts in Marana's planning area.

The Coalition consists of 41 conservation and community groups whose mission is to promote regional habitat conservation efforts throughout Pima County. I am pleased to represent the Coalition on the Town's Stakeholder Working Group (SWG).

The Coalition firmly believes that by using guidance provided in the Endangered Species Act, and the Habitat Conservation Planning Handbook and addendum (a.k.a. 5-Point Policy), the Town can achieve species conservation through the HCP and other measures that can then serve as an example for other communities to follow. With that in mind, we are providing our comments and recommendations on the following aspects of the HCP:

• Conservation Strategies for the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (Preserve, Augmentation, and BEROD)
• Conservation Strategies for the Burrowing Owl
• Conservation Strategies for the Tucson Shovel-Nosed Snake
• Conservation Strategies for the Ground Snake
• Interim Conservation Measures
• Funding
• Public Participation

The Tucson Audubon Society has provided the Town with comments specific to the Augmentation Program for the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl, due to their concern and expertise in the area of endangered bird recovery. The Coalition concurs with their comments, which are summarized in our letter.

The Coalition firmly believes that conservation planning must have a sound science foundation and a robust public participation process in order to truly succeed. With that in mind, I hope you find our comments useful, and are able to incorporate them as we move together toward finalization of the permit, and long-term implementation.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Campbell
Executive Director

cc:  Ms. Leslie Liberti, SWCA

The full text of the Coalition's "Comments on the Town of Marana's Proposed Tortolita Preserve and the Marana Habitat Conservation Plan" can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat® format (80 kBytes).

Click here