SunZia – Redington Road North to Buehman Canyon – 12/12/2017

In the modest distance between Redington Road and Buehman Canyon the SunZia transmission line project will add ten 135 foot tall steel lattice towers, two tension pads and 5 new access roads – only a fraction of the additions the project will make to the San Pedro River Valley. It appears that the only remaining barrier in Arizona to SunZia’s plan is a single lawsuit.

Hiking in the SunZia corridor from Redington Road. December 2017.
Hiking in the SunZia corridor north from Redington Road. December 2017.

The San Pedro River Valley east of the Santa Catalina Mountains is far from pristine wilderness – farms, ranches, homes, utility lines, cattle, a gas pipeline and dirt roads cutting thru the desert… But that list obscures the truth that this area is something special, a part of Arizona that should be preserved as a welcome and important contrast to (and relief from) the dense development on the south and west side of the mountain. Giant steel towers looming over the valley and power lines imprisoning the sky don’t belong here.

Terrain and sky in the SunZia corridor. December 2017.
Terrain and sky in the SunZia corridor. December 2017.

I walk north and imagine the towers and lines – the subtle rolling hills won’t give them any place to hide, every time I look up I can see where they will create new shapes on skyline blocking the open sky – and every time I look down the variety of rocks and plants is amazing.

In the SunZia corridor near Buehman Canyon. December 2017.
In the SunZia corridor near Buehman Canyon. December 2017.
Rocks in the SunZia corridor. December 2017.
Rocks in the SunZia corridor. December 2017.
Cactus in the SunZia Right of Way. December 2017.
Cactus in the SunZia Right of Way. December 2017.
Color in Buehman Canyon. December 2017.
Color in Buehman Canyon. December 2017.

The terrain is steeper near Buehman Canyon and there is still fall color in the bottom of the canyon – beautiful to see this late in the season. The SunZia line will cross high above the canyon.

On a hillside east of the line the sunset comes into view – I wonder if this shot will be interrupted by towers and lines in the future…

Sunset over the Santa Catalina Mountains. December 2017.
Sunset over the Santa Catalina Mountains. December 2017.

Some SunZia reading material:

A map of the SunZia Line as it leaves Redington Road and proceeds north to Buehman Canyon. December 2017.
A map of the SunZia Line as it leaves Redington Road and proceeds north to Buehman Canyon. December 2017.

One thought on “SunZia – Redington Road North to Buehman Canyon – 12/12/2017

  1. Awful news to me, but thanks for it. Human “progress” is relentless, and every day there is less nature, never more. Maybe some day that will change, but it sure doesn’t look that way in the foreseeable future.

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