Facts

Tumamoc Hill is a Tucson icon. In case you're not familiar with the name, Tumamoc is that very recognizable flat-topped hill just north of A Mountain. It has observatories on the top.

Tumamoc has been used by the Carnegie Institute and the UA as a desert ecology research site since 1903. The flora and fauna of this continuously undisturbed land have been invaluable in our understanding of our environment. There is also a well-loved trail that the public can use to hike to the top.

Now, however, 320 acres of the west-side of Tumamoc Hill are threatened by potential development. The UA currently leases that parcel, which is state trust land. The lease expires in 2006. Recently the UA, in conjunction with Pima County, attempted to purchase the parcel at an auction. The auction was set up under the Arizona Preserve Iniative (API), and the land would have been protected from development no matter who bought it.

The land department canceled the sale, however, following a protest by a property-rights activist who believes that the state constitution requires this land to be sold without any restrictions at all to the highest bidder. There is a chance that such an unencumbered auction could occur later this year.

This land is zoned RX-2 (1 home per 16,000 sq. ft.) which means that over 800 homes could be built on the site, if a developer had the winning bid. Since the UA/Pima County only have $3,000,000 set aside for the purchase, this is eminently possible.

Governor Napolitano's office tells us that their main concern is the potential unconstitutionality of the API. They believe we need to fix the API with a ballot initiative before attempting to sell Tumamoc. That may be true, but we need to keep the pressure on, lest the land department decide to sell the land out from under us before that happens. We all know how hostile the land department has been to conservation in the past.

TAKE ACTION NOW! Voice your opinions!

Click below to send a quick email to the Governor and State Land Commissioner indicating your support for the conservation of Tumamoc Hill. (You will be able to review and add to the message before sending it.) Unless we let them know we're here and we're watching, they might think they can get away with this!

Click here to send an e-mail to the Governor and State Land Commissioner

OR compose your own letter and mail it to:
jlesher@az.gov, pfabri@lnd.state.az.us