Considerations regarding the "Arivaca Tower"
for SBInet Project 28
by Richard Conway, PhD
As a retired geologist and someone trained to approach a problem with reason and deliberation I would like to offer the following. After carefully examining Site 29 and the four alternate sites for Tower M6 (the "Arivaca Tower") it is clear that Site 29 is the least desirable. I honestly doubt that its selection was based on field work.
Not only is Site 29 very close to the sensitive riparian corridor of Fraguita Wash, but its proximity to the wash impairs its ability to monitor activity in the wash. This is the most dense vegetation zone along the length of the wash, and this vegetation will hinder all of the "line of sight" monitoring capabilities of the tower. Also I have noted that the site is on igneous bedrock and would require significant effort - and damage - during site preparation. Installing augured anchors for the guy-wires would be extremely difficult.
My feeling is that of the three locations along the flanks of Fraguita Peak, the alternative Sites 30 and 31 are better. They are a respectful distance from town, are removed from riparian zones and are more effective monitoring sites because there is less vegetation entrants can use as cover. Site 31 is on shale and Site 30 is on fractured and mineralized igneous rock. This will make installation easier on both sites as compared to Site 29.
Sites 12 and 13 are closest to the border and better for that reason alone. They are on the paved Ruby Road near the turn to Arivaca Lake with excellent views of migrant pathways along the Yellow Jacket Wash.
I am concerned that the Boeing designers do not understand the extreme difficulties of comprehensive surveillance of even proximal terrain in this rugged country despite the use of sophisticated monitoring gear. Illegal entrants and smugglers use the excellent cover of the washes and can remain "below the radar" and difficult to detect for long distances.
It is obviously a strategic quasi-military decision whether to choose Sites 12 or 13 above Yellow Jacket Wash or the zone along Fraguita Wash and the flanks of Fraguita Peak. But after that decision is a made a careful balancing of many factors must be conducted, including the impact on Arivaca and its people. If the Fraguita corridor is chosen, Sites 30 or 31 must be preferred.
