The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection has a $60,000 year-end fundraising goal and has a donor who has pledged a $15,000 matching gift which is currently (11/29/2014) doubling donations. In a recent mailing the Coalition indicated that in the upcoming year donations will support: a campaign to help pass a new Open Space Bond in Pima County, a re-vegetation project adjacent to the Oracle Road Wildlife Crossing and a new Wildlife Crossing Steward Program.

Stop bighorn relocation project – Green Valley News and Sun, Wildlife group to protest AZ Game & Fish Department – Tucson News Now: Two pieces about the Friends of Wildlife and their protest/opinion that the Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction effort should be stopped.

Hiker rescued out of Romero Pools – KVOA – Jessica Gutierrez: Sprained ankle leads to a flight out.

Coronado National Forest Selects Accela Civic Platform for Recreation and Resource Management – A press release about the Coronado National Forest selecting the Accela Civic Platform, from the press release it is impossible to know if Coronado will/can/has plans to leverage this in the Santa Catalina Ranger District in any meaningful way.

Monsoon-nurtured grasses could fuel winter wildfires – Douglas Kreutz – Arizona Daily Star: I suppose the straight to the point quote in the article is “The potential for winter wildfire on the Coronado National Forest exists” – the article mentions monsoon rains as a factor in the creating the current “abundance of grasses and other fine fuels” but it would be interesting to know how unusual this year is…

Scenic Sabino is the spot for a stroll – Kristen Cook – Arizona Daily Star: Always great to remind people about the great opportunities to explore the outdoors in Sabino Canyon!

OFF-ROAD CYCLISTS Riding trails of advocacy – Nick Meyers – Aztec Press Online: Nice post about TORCA – Tucson Off-Road Cyclists and Activists. An exceprt from TORCA’s About page: “TORCA’s Mission is to take an active and strategic role in the mountain biking community in the maintenance of the resources available to us. We are focused on the All-Mountain and Downhill disciplines of mountain biking with a focus on the Santa Catalina Mountains.”