MARANA, Ariz. (KGUN) — A new wildlife crossing may be coming to Pima County. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously at their Sept. 3 meeting to approve an exception to the county's Multi-Species Conservation Plan to allow construction on a property near I-10 near Marana.
The first step is to build a ramp up the Santa Cruz River bed, replacing the levee.
Pima County's Reigonal Flood Control District owns the part of the Santa Cruz river where the ramp is going.
“As it exists right now, the slope of the levee is a little bit too steep to be accessible to the wide variety of wildlife that will use this area,” said Camille Hal, Community Engagement Manager for the county's Flood Control District.
This ramp would be the first step in Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources Department's plan to make a wildlife corridor. That means connecting animals from the Tortolita Mountains to those in the Tucson Mountains with a safe passage way over I-10.
Pima County Regional Flood District plans to start construction in October of this year.
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Alex Dowd is a multimedia journalist at KGUN 9, where her work combines her two favorite hobbies: talking to new people and learning about the community around her. Her goal is to eventually meet every single person in Tucson. Share your story ideas with Alex via email, alex.dowd@kgun9.com, or connecting on Instagram or X.
