Oro Valley’s exceptionally rich wildlife and vegetation are a big part of the community’s appeal. Approximately 30% of Oro Valley’s land is natural or landscaped open space. The town is crisscrossed with washes and arroyos that are dry most of the year, but essential for handling the large volumes of water that flow through the area during the region’s rainy seasons. When dry, the washes and arroyos provide vital wildlife habitats and corridors, recreational trails, and serve as natural buffers to development.

Our community places a high value on the Sonoran Desert environment and strives to conserve and protect its resources. Additionally, there is a strong desire to connect open spaces, creating an enjoyable environment for all. Other resident priorities that shaped this part of the Plan include:

• Maintaining views and wildlife corridors
• Protecting native plants
• Expanding OV conservation areas

The guiding principle provides the foundation for building goals, policies, and action. It represents the desires of our community.

Click on the images below to see the policies and specific actions the Town will take to achieve each goal.

Goal J: Wildlife Habitats.		Goal K: Environmental Resources.
Proactively protect and restore environmentally sensitive lands, natural resource areas, and other conservation areas to support wildlife habitat and connectivity.		Promote land use development practices and programs that conserve and minimize impacts on natural and cultural resources.
Photo Credit: Andrew Romero
Goal L: Dark Skies.		Goal M: Stormwater Management.
Preserve and protect dark skies as a key component of Oro Valley’s natural environment and community values.		Promote the conservation of natural resources through thoughtful design, sustainable construction practices, and proactive management strategies.

Relationship with Other Goals in the Plan

The goals in this section are interrelated with goals in other chapters of the Plan, in the same way they are connected in our lives. The following table depicts the overlap between this section’s goals (and associated policies and actions) and other sections.

Please click on the links below to read the related goals, policies, and actions.