Community members and environmental advocates say they are beginning to see the first signs of preparation for a controversial new stretch of border wall slated for construction in Arizona’s San Rafael Valley, south of Tucson.

The valley, a sweeping grassland corridor bordered by rugged mountain ranges, straddles the U.S.-Mexico border and is considered ecologically significant. The San Pedro River flows through the area, and conservationists have long documented endangered species such as the jaguar and ocelot using the landscape as part of their migration routes.

In June, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded a contract valued at approximately $309 million to build about 27 miles of wall in this region. In recent weeks, monitors say crews have been conducting land surveys and placing stakes in preparation for construction, which could begin as early as next week.

“There has been very little transparency right now about what kind of results they’ve been getting, how these environmental surveys, or land surveys, have been conducted,” said Erick Meza, borderlands coordinator for the Sierra Club.

Meza and other conservation leaders warn that construction could worsen challenges already heightened by this year’s unusually dry monsoon season. Limited rainfall has forced animals to travel farther in search of scarce water sources, and advocates fear the wall could block traditional migration paths, further straining wildlife survival.

A DHS-run public comment page on the project received thousands of responses, many urging the agency to incorporate wildlife accommodations—such as openings in the barrier to allow animals to pass safely. However, Meza said the community has received no indication that those recommendations are being considered.

“We still haven’t gotten any response from the Department of Homeland Security on what kind of considerations they are planning to do with this design in order to respond to the concerns of the community,” he said.

Opposition to the project has also moved into the courts. In July, a coalition of environmental organizations filed a lawsuit seeking to block construction of the San Rafael Valley wall segment, citing risks to endangered species and fragile habitats. The case is still pending, with no ruling issued so far.

Meanwhile, DHS has not publicly addressed questions about the project timeline or whether it will include wildlife-friendly features. For many residents and conservationists, the silence adds to a sense of uncertainty and frustration.

For now, the stakes in the ground and the movement of survey crews are the only visible signs of what may soon become one of the most contested stretches of border wall in Arizona.

Originally reported by Alisa Reznick in KJZZ.