The rural and riparian corridor of Cornville AZ (population valley side of 3,325) is home to 21 federally listed endangered species, including pairs of returning bald and golden eagles. There are also six critical wetland habitats as well as prehistoric pueblo ceremonial complexes, including burial mounds, sun calendar horizons, and mesa top ruins that link through visual lines of sight to the whole of the Verde Valley and red rocks of Sedona. This combination of natural, historic, and scenic resources makes Cornville unique.
Unfortunately, we are also the backdoor pathway for wireless carriers into the lucrative tourist markets of Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek as they fight each other for market share in the growing Verde Valley.
While it is important to acknowledge that Cornville has serious gap coverage needs, both for emergency and general communications, which have made us vulnerable, but since 2021 residents have stepped up to stop two oversized, multiple radiation center, city-style 100 foot cellular towers from going up in our nestled valley. The proposed placements were bad and in each case, would have multiplied adverse impacts on us and our environment in perpetuity, including our wildlife and our children. More importantly, the towers weren’t properly placed to meet our needs. Instead, their placements guaranteed (corporate interests?) that we would need still more towers.
The same thing is happening with the new proposed fire station tower. Resident/activists have proposed a better, more effective tower placement in the Merritt Ranch area. It’s important to note that neither one of these towers will fully address our communications needs. There will always be areas in Cornville that won’t have cell phone coverage.
Linked below are the assessment of the two proposed towers and their effect on our precious wildlife, which is especially vulnerable to tower radiation.
Read the fire station tower assessment here
And read the Merritt Ranch tower assessment here
Click on the Taxonomy number for more information on the affected animal.
Endangered
| Image | Common Name | Taxonomy number |
 |
Mexican Spotted Owl | 177928 |
 |
Southwestern willow flycatcher | 712529 |
 |
Yellow-billed cuckoo | 1771831 |
| Mexican Garter Snake | 209125 | |
| Gila Chub | 163560 | |
| Spikedace | 163583 | |
| Woundfin | 163660 | |
| Monarch Butterfly | 117273 | |
| Arizona Cliff Rose | 195903 | |
| Razorback Sucker | 163968 | |
| Loach Minnow | 163389 | |
| Migratory Birds | ||
| Black-throated Gray Warbler | 178896 | |
| Evening Grosbeak | 179175 | |
| Golden Eagle | 175407 | |
| Grace’s Warbler | 178909 | |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | 554221 | |
| Red-faced Warbler | 178970 | |
| Rufous-winged Sparrow | 997731 | |
| Virgina’s Warbler | 178864 | |
| Black-chinned Sparrow | 179448 | |
| Bald Eagle | 175420 |