What's New
The Gila River is the last free-flowing river in
New Mexico and the Gila Wilderness is one of the largest, most
remote roadless areas in the entire United States. The area offers an
abundance of recreational, hunting and fishing opportunities, natural
hot springs, hundreds of miles of trails and a glimpse into New
Mexico’s cultural past with plentiful pictographs and cliff dwellings.
Unfortunately,
some politicians are eyeing the river for water "development" projects,
like diversions. The Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) has been
advocating an expensive water diversion project that could permanently
damage the Gila River.
As a result, the Gila
River was named as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers, by the
organization American Rivers, in Spring 2008. Governor Richardson
joined river advocates at the announcement, pledging to protect the
Gila River.
Convened by the ISC, the Southwest
New Mexico multi-stakeholder water planning process should continue its
work to plan for the region’s future water needs and to determine how
to utilize the federal funds offered to New Mexico. In the coming
months, this stakeholder group will be deciding how to best use funds
allocated by the legislature in 2008 and begin work on several
environmental impact studies, designed to guage the impact of any water
projects on this wild river.
Brief Summary
Carving its way through 650 miles of America’s first designated wilderness area, the Gila River is New Mexico’s last free-flowing river. The Gila Wilderness is also one of the largest roadless areas in the contiguous United States.
The Gila River supports an important and precious ecosystem and offers abundant fishing, hiking, educational and recreational opportunities, along with a wealth of natural hot springs—all attracting tourists from across the state and country. With abundant pictographs and cliff dwellings, the region is also a link to New Mexico’s cultural past. The Gila River continues to give life to wildlife like mountain lions, fox, lizards, coyotes, elk and bear—including several federally endangered species—the spikedace, loach minnow, Gila chub, Chiricahua leopard frog and southwestern willow flycatcher—who make the Gila Wilderness their home.
Unfortunately, the Gila River—and all the life it supports—is threatened. Already, the Gila River carries less water than it did historically due to the demands of irrigation and mining, drought, downstream use in Arizona and flow reductions due to decreased mountain snow pack. Imperiled fish, birds and other wildlife need the river’s water too, as do people who find solace and respite in fishing, birding, rafting and hiking. Yet, decision-makers continue to eye this last wild southwest river for water “development” projects, such as diversions.
Signed into law in December 2004, the Arizona Water Settlements Act (AWSA) settles long-standing water rights claims in Arizona and delineates New Mexico’s right to use 14,000 acre-feet per year of Gila River water originally promised to the state under the 1968 Central Arizona Project authorizing legislation. The Act also provides up to $128 million in federal funds to New Mexico for construction of a water project on the Gila River.
In spite of the fact that local communities in southwestern New Mexico have not identified a need for this water project, the Interstate Stream Commission has been moving ahead with efforts to study water withdrawals from the Gila without examining the range of water supply alternatives available to the region.
During the 2007 legislative session, Governor Richardson vetoed a $945,000 appropriation for “Gila Basin Water Development” in response to hundreds of calls from the conservation community, including Environment New Mexico. Then, on June 27, the Governor issued a policy statement regarding water resources planning under the AWSA, stating his desire to protect the Gila River for future generations and to make conservation of these rivers a top priority in the state’s response to the Act.
The Governor’s veto and policy statement underscore the need for a new process that examines the full range of water supply alternatives that meet the water needs of the communities in southwestern New Mexico and that is not focused entirely on Gila River diversion and consumption.
As a result of the Governor’s policy statement, the Interstate Stream Commission has agreed to convene a number of workshops made up of state, local and federal agencies and stakeholders including environmental groups from the Southwest region of New Mexico to help define the planning process used to make decisions regarding how New Mexico’s benefits under the 2004 AWSA are utilized.
To resolve this issue, we need a common sense approach that can satisfy the future water needs of the region while also maintaining the free flow of the Gila River. The AWSA allows for $66 million of the $128 million federal subsidy to be expended for any “water utilization projects that meet a water supply demand.” This funding could go to improving municipal conservation, increasing irrigation efficiency, buying water rights or to a host of other practical measures that would meet the future needs of the entire region and conserve the Gila River. Long-term, the Gila River needs permanent protection.
