River Currents Issue #8, March 2009
Gila Conservation Coalition: Saving New Mexico’s Last Wild River Since 1984
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, Jack Brennan 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.
But in 2004, the water developers were back and the Arizona Water Settlements Act was passed providing New Mexico with a federal subsidy and the ability to develop up to 14,000 acre-feet/year of Gila River water. The Gila Conservation Coalition sprang back into action and reconfigured itself. By forming a partnership between local environmental and conservation groups – Gila Resources Information Project, Upper Gila Watershed Alliance and the Center for Biological Diversity – GCC expanded its base of support and political strength. Working as a coalition, GCC partners are able to leverage scarce resources across partner organizations and enhance collaboration at the local level.
For the past five years, GCC has lead Gila River protection efforts at the federal, state and local levels. Through the annual Gila River Festival, Gila River Photography Exhibit, annual Gila River Day at the state capitol, America’s Most Endangered Rivers designation and the Gila River outreach campaign, GCC has been successful at raising awareness of the threat to the Gila and the need for its protection.
GCC continues to advocate for Gila River protection in planning processes under the Arizona Water Settlements Act. Our position is that a fair analysis of water supply/demand management alternatives to meet our future water needs will demonstrate that the “no diversion options” are both feasible and more economically sound and will also protect the Gila River for future generations.
GCC will be celebrating its 25th anniversary throughout 2009. Check out some of the activities we’re planning below in this e-newsletter.
M. H. “Dutch” Salmon Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at the 3RD Annual Gila River Day
In contrast to the slow pace of laid-back New Mexico, the Roundhouse is full of buzz and excitement during the annual legislative session. It’s always fun to add our annual Gila River Day event to the mix of legislating and lobbying.
award.jpgOn February 4th, at the 3rd annual Gila River Day, Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, Representative Mimi Stewart and GCC Executive Director, Allyson Siwik presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to M. H. “Dutch” Salmon for his 25 years of work on behalf of the Gila River, the Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness areas and New Mexico’s wildlife.
The chairman and co-founder of the Gila Conservation Coalition, Salmon was instrumental in preventing the construction of the ill-conceived Hooker and Conner Dams on the Gila River in the 1980s. Dutch is a two-term member of the New Mexico Game Commission and has served on the boards of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation and Quivira Coalition, among others. He also served on the Interstate Stream Commission in the late 1980’s. Dutch is the author of several books, including the Southwestern classic Gila Descending and the recently released Gila Libre! A member of the New Mexico Game Commission, he still finds time for fishing, hunting, and running his publishing business, High Lonesome Books.
In presenting the conservation award, Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish spoke about the beautiful Gila River and Dutch’s efforts on its behalf. Representative Mimi Stewart said she “didn’t even know where the Gila was” until she went on a GCC-sponsored raft trip two years ago, and that she supports protecting this jewel of a river. The award was a surprise to Dutch, who quickly recovered and exhibited his usual eloquence in speaking on behalf of his beloved Gila River.
The audience was also treated to the premiere of GCC’s new video, Saving the Gila: New Mexico’s Last Wild River. You can check it out at www.gilaconservation.org .
Gila River Photo Exhibit at Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center February 15 – April 12, 2009
As the 5th largest state, New Mexico covers a lot of territory. If you want to visit the free-flowing Gila River, but don’t want to drive for several hours to do so, there’s another way to get a taste of the Gila’s beauty and unique ecology. Until April 12th, the Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center is hosting stunning photos of the Gila River, along with an informational display.
After this glimpse of the wild Gila River, no doubt you’ll want to visit it in person, to experience its charms with all of your senses. Here at the Gila Conservation Coalition, we’re working hard to ensure that the Gila River remains wild and free-flowing, today, tomorrow, and forever.
The Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center is located at 6500 Coors Boulevard NW, between Montaño and Paseo del Norte. For more information, call 505.897.8831 or visit www.cabq.gov/openspace
Mark Your Calendars!!
* MARCH 2 – AWSA Implementation Committee; regular quarterly meeting – 10 am, Grant County Administration Building, Silver City.
* APRIL 4 -AWSA Stakeholders Group; regular quarter meeting – 8:30 am – 1 pm, Grant County Administration Building, Silver City.