I met with Trico Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TRICO) staff at the Dove Mountain West Park regarding the Adonis Feeder Transmission Line (AFTL) on 9/26/24. In attendance were: Brian Heithoff-CEO, Wesley Crane-Manager, Land services & Environmental, Matt Fredericksen-VP Electric Operations, Torey Bell-VP Engineering and Jerry Rutherford-TRICO Board Member-Dove Mountain. After the meeting, TRICO did provide requested maps, drawings, reports and correspondence which are referenced in this blog.
To prepare for the meeting, I hiked (down & back) the 3.0 mile AFTL East route on 9/22/24.
The following was gleaned from the meeting and hike.
Meeting
Project Purpose-provide a second electric feed (redundancy) for Dove Mountain and reduce load on the existing Thornydale Substation by transferring half the load to the new Adonis Substation. See lead map above.
Service Area-Dove Mountain Specific Plan areas only but there is some extra capacity but no specific locations are identified.
Saguaro-Marana Transmission Line Project (S-MTL)-AFTL is not part of this project which was designed and built by others.
Regulatory Approvals
Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC)-AFTL is technically a distribution line as the size of the towers and wire capacity are not large enough to trigger oversight by the ACC. Therefore there were no ACC public announcements or hearings---unlike the S-MTL project which did meet that threshold.
Arizona State Land Department (ASLD)-TRICO obtained a 30' right-of-way (ROW)-3.0 miles in length for the East Leg to Dove Mountain from ASLD on 4/13/23 (18 months ago). The ROW agreement has a 10-year term. The ROW agreement requires compliance with Environmental, Native Plant and Cultural regulations among other items. It appears ASLD only directly informed grazing lease-holders and not adjacent landowners regarding the issuance of this ROW.
Marana-TRICO is just now working on obtaining utility access to the public ROW that extends from the ASLD land boundary to the end of Dove Mountain Blvd for the installation of the underground portion to connect to two existing electrical feeder boxes. It is not clear when Marana first became aware of this project.
Arizona Department of Agriculture & ASLD (Native Plants)-a native plant study was performed prior to construction. The study identified 4,152 native plants and trees within the project area (22 acres). This included 322 saguaros with "several large individuals with multiple arms". TRICO chose to harvest the native plants, i.e. remove and destroy the plants and pay a fee of $196,000. A Native Plant Harvest Permit was applied for and issued. It appears local native plant rescue organizations were not made aware of this Native Plant Harvest permit.
Cottonwood Properties (Dove Mountain Master Developer)-apparently well aware of this project for some time.
Arizona Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) & Arizona State Museum- cultural report was prepared. Some culturally sensitive areas were identified but they were not directly in the area of construction and/or not signifcant.
Avian Protection Plan (APP)-TRICO has a comprehensive APP to ensure compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty, Bald & Golden Eagle Protection Act and Endangered Species Act. The APP policies and procedures were applied to AFTL.
Design
Route-AFTL has two legs. Please reference the lead map.
West Leg-28,427' (5.38 miles)-connects the new Adonis Substation with the existing Thornydale Substation. It is located in an existing 30' ROW (a small portion is 60') and the ROW is located between two existing Tucson Electric Power transmission lines.
East Leg-13,969' (2.65 miles)-connects to the West Leg and heads east to Dove Mountain in a new 30' ROW (referenced above).
Towers-steel with varying heights (55', 65', 70', 75' and 80'). The steel towers are inserted in a drilled hole to a depth of 11' to 15' and the annulus is filled with concrete slurry. There are shorter (55') strengthening towers at the end of each leg that are bolted to a concrete pier foundation. The towers were not designed to include future cellular equipment and it is not the intent of TRICO to do so.
Wire-a total of 8 conductors-1 (top), 3 (middle) and 4 (bottom). The top static conductor also houses a fiber optic cable to be used to securely monitor the TRICO electrical system and potentially provide high speed internet service to Dove Mountain via its existing underground conduit system.
Underground Portion-the last two towers of the East Leg end only 170' and 210' from the Saguaro Reserve subdivision property line. Two conduits (total) coming from these poles will be installed underground in the ASLD ROW and then into the Marana ROW (between the end of Dove Mountain Blvd and ASLD property line) and connect to two existing electrical feeder boxes which connect to the Dove Mountain electrical system. See drawing below.
Funding-TRICO funded AFTL via a loan from Rural Utilities Service (USDA). There was no developer funding.
Viewshed Issues-AFTL towers end 170' from the property line of the Saguaro Reserve subdivision. The lots abutting the property have a straight shot view of these huge towers. See photo from Part I. I asked TRICO if they would consider re-constructing the last half-mile using underground construction techniques (as they did for the existing electric transmission line to Dove Mountain) to improve the viewshed for these residents. TRICO indicated they would if someone pays for it. TRICO needs to contact the developers (Cottonwood Properties & Pulte) about funding the re-construction of the last half mile of AFTL to improve the aesthetics for the residents in Saguaro Reserve and keep AFTL consistent with the existing all-underground-utility-construction within Dove Mountain.
Construction-the ROW has been cleared of all native vegetation and all the poles (except strengthening poles) have been installed. Wire installation is next and it will be done from the ground (no helicopters). See Hike and Inspection section below for construction evaluation. Please note that TRICO actually suspended construction for over a week out respect for Tortolita Alliance concerns.
Post Construction
Fencing & Off Highway Vehicles (OHVs)-the project area will not be fenced but TRICO will evaluate the need for possible strategic fencing in areas to avoid creating a new transportation route for OHV traffic. TA suggested coordinating with the Trail Riders of Southern Arizona and Tucson Rough Riders.
Hiking & Biking-the project area could become a new route for hikers and mountain bikers.
Hike & Inspection
The ROW is 3.0 miles long (one-way) and drops in elevation 285' from Dove Mountain West Park to the end of AFTL. See the hike track and photos below. This area is beautiful Sonoran Desert. There are signs of existing OHV traffic in some areas which is allowed by permit from ASLD. Typical flora and fauna were seen including large hawk and bobcat. Several cows (former residents of the Tortolita Preserve) were grazing in the area to the west of the cattle fence/gate shown in the photos.
Generally, the construction performance was acceptable. There were a few areas disturbed just outside the ROW limits, some of the wash crossings were blocked with excavated soil and some vegetation debris remains.
TRICO indicated they would ensure all of these items will be cleaned up.
AFTL Summary
Provides electrical service redundancy for Dove Mountain and potential high speed internet service.
TRICO obtained the required regulatory approvals but such approvals did not require public notice or input.
ASLD ROW Agreement requirements have been complied with.
AFTL is a viewshed aesthetic issue for residents in the Saguaro Reserve subdivsion, especially those with lots backing up to ASLD land.
Considerable number of native plants (including 322 saguaros) were harvested without any apparent opportunity to save them.
OHV, hiking and mountain biking within AFTL ROW needs to be addressed.
Conclusion
AFTL is an important project for Dove Mountain residents and has been designed, permitted and constructed in accordance with current regulatory standards.
Although not officially required, this project was developed without the knowledge and input of the general public including TRICO members (customers)--especially those in Dove Mountain. I looked back at one-year of TRICO's Live Wire newsletter to members (customers) and there is no mention of this project.
If the meeting held this week with TRICO executives had been held two years ago, perhaps the last half-mile or more of AFTL could have been designed using underground construction techniques to improve viewshed aesthetics and perhaps many native plants and saguaros could have been saved.
This project is yet another example of Arizona OPACITY (opposite of TRANSPARENCY). And its not just TRICO. Municipalities, government agencies, utilities, developers, etc. purposely keep its constituents in the dark about very important matters. They believe they have all the answers that are best for us. Well that is just not true. It's high time for these entities to respect its citizens, customers, members and engage us for respectful and thoughtful input at the beginning of projects and not after they are constructed.
