By the 21st Century, you might think that every magical, special, ecologically-intact spot on this planet would long since be on the tourist trail, and maybe even find itself over-developed. Somehow, though, the mountains, streams and wildlife that make up the Gila ("hee-la") are still here to be explored, loved and protected (New York Times Article:
Walking a Dream of Desolation).
The Gila River carves its way 650 miles through America's first designated wilderness area. Hikers share backcountry with mountain lions, fox and lizards, coyotes, hawks, elk and bears. And the human past shouts its history in pictographs, cliff dwellings, and historic ranches.
Those
who explore the Gila River's wilderness watershed know that
the largely wild flow of the Gila River is literally the lifeblood
of this national treasure, and must be preserved for all time.
And,
indeed, vigilance is needed. The Gila River continues to be
threatened by water development projects. With good planning
and citizen involvement, New Mexico's last wild river can
be a magical and healthy ecosystem for our children to enjoy
for generations to come. Read more
Check out GCC's 25th anniversary video
"Saving the Gila: New Mexico's Last Wild River"
What's New at GCC?
Gila Economic Forum
Thursday, May 28, 2009; 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Western New Mexico University Global Resources Center Auditorium, Silver City, New Mexico
2009 Gila Science Forum
Western New Mexico University Global Resources Center Auditorium, Silver City, New Mexico June 3, 2009, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Gila Conservation Coalition founder and Chairman Dutch Salmon received a lifetime achievement award at the 3rd Annual Gila River Day held on February 4 at the State Capitol Rotunda. The award honors Dutch’s 25 years of work on behalf of the Gila River, the Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness areas and New Mexico’s wildlife. Dutch is a two-term member of the New Mexico Game Commission and has served on the boards of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Quivira Coalition, and GRIP. He also served on the Interstate Stream commission. Dutch is the author of seven outdoor books including the recently released Gila Libre!, Gila Descending, Country Sports, and the novel Home is the River. He has canoed, hiked, and fished the river from its source at Bead Spring to Safford, Arizona, and his experience makes him one of the few authorities on the Gila River in New Mexico.
GCC Turns 25!
2009 marks the Gila Conservation Coalition’s 25th year of working to protect the Gila River. Founded in 1984 by GCC’s current chairman, Dutch Salmon, the late Bob Langsingkamp, Herbie Marsden and Jim Goodkind, the organization is known for its success in stopping the Hooker and Conner Dam proposals in the 1980s. GCC was instrumental in calling attention to the huge environmental and economic impacts of these large-scale water development projects. The Hooker Dam would have flooded part of the Gila Wilderness, our nation’s first wilderness area. The Conner Dam and its alternative, the Mangas Diversion, were so costly that Silver City was unwilling to sign on to the repayment contract. Once these dam projects were laid to rest, GCC achieved protection of the East Fork of the Gila River from road building and partial closure of the wild San Francisco River to ORV use. Read more
Gila River Among America’s Most Endangered Rivers Water Development Threatens New Mexico’s Last Free-flowing River
April 17, 2008; Silver City, NM – The Gila River, New Mexico’s last free-flowing river, has been named one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers, by the organization American Rivers. The Gila is threatened by a major water development project that could double the amount of water currently withdrawn from the river, degrading this ecological jewel and imposing hundreds of millions of dollars of cost on taxpayers for an unnecessary project. The river has long been eyed for its water development potential, but estimated costs, environmental impacts, and community opposition have precluded previous projects from moving forward. Read more
21st Century Climate Change in Southwest New Mexico:
What’s in store for the Gila?
One-page summary of Dr. Gutzler's presentation here.
Entire powerpoint presentation here.
More info on Dr. Gutzler here.
Gila Conservation Coalition
305A N Cooper
Street Silver City, NM 88061
575.538.8078 voice/fax
info@gilaconservation.org
Organized in 1984 to protect the free flow of the Gila and San Francisco Rivers and the wilderness characteristics of the Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness areas, the Gila Conservation Coalition (GCC) is a partnership of local environmental and conservation groups and concerned individuals that promote conservation of the Upper Gila River Basin and surrounding lands.