Drive about 45 minutes southwest of the Phoenix Valley, and you will reach an expanse of the Sonoran desert with a long, rich history.
The Gila River runs through this area, which was once lush with flora and fauna. Now, with the river dammed up, the water doesn't always flow. Nonetheless, the region is still home to an abundance of people, wildlife and historical treasures. These three aspects are what locals, archaeologists, and biologists hope to preserve as a national monument.
The Great Bend of the Gila, as the monument would be named, is a network of braided rivulets. These streams join into the Gila River, which cuts through prehistoric lava fields and flows past nearby mountain ranges before joining the Colorado River near the Sea of Cortez.
The Gila is the second-longest river in Arizona after the Colorado. Its headwaters begin in New Mexico and flow westward across the state.
The river, its banks and surrounding wilderness are home to a rich variety of Sonoran plants and animals, including bighorn sheep and pronghorn, both of which have experienced hunting and loss of habitat.
Signs of human habitation stretch back as far as 11,000 years. Archaeologists have identified that both Patayan and Hohokam communities called this area home. Present-day O'odham and Yuman people trace their lineages to these ancient cultures.
Petroglyphs — carved images into rocks — and geoglyphs — large images carved into wide landscapes — have been discovered. Ancient trail systems and artifacts such as building structures, canals, and pottery also have been discovered.
The first Spanish incursions into Arizona encountered this environment as they explored further northward. And years later, American settlers also moved into the area. Today, 13 federally recognized tribes have some tie to the Gila River.
Respect Great Bend of the Gila is the campaign pushing President Joe Biden to sign this area into national monument status. The campaign includes local tribes, wildlife biologists and archeologists. The proposed monument boundaries are about 70 miles of the Gila River corridor and approximately 370,000 acres of public land.
In this episode of Valley 101, we hear from representatives of each of these groups. They share the history, discoveries and importance of the Gila River region to Arizonans and the nation.
Listen to the episode
Listen to Valley 101 on your favorite podcast app or stream the full episode below.
Note:Valley 101 is intended to be heard, but we offeran AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio.
What is a national monument?
To most of us, the difference between a national monument and a national park is a fine line. Simply put, national monuments have something of historical, cultural, and/or scientific interest. Whereas national parks are protected due to their scenic, inspirational, educational, and recreational value. There is also some difference in who oversees the land, be it an entity like the Bureau of Land Management or the National Parks Service.
There are two ways to designate a national monument. Congress can vote to create a national monument. Or the president can designate it via power granted by the Antiquities Act.
On Aug. 8, 2023, President Joe Biden signed Arizona's newest national monument into being: the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. The collation of Respect Great Bend of the Gila hopes Biden will do the same for the Gila before he leaves office.
In regards to a new president taking office, Skylar Begay, the director of Tribal Collaboration in Outreach and Advocacywith the Archaeology Southwest and member of the Respect Great Bend of the Gila campaign, shared this:
"The Presidential race is not necessarilya setback for thecampaign. While his withdrawal introduces some additional nuance as to speculating what he may do for conservation prior to the end of his term, we feel thatthis is a prime opportunity for his administration to protect this cultural landscape. With strong and widespread support from Tribal leaders and elected officials, he can help fulfill his commitment to protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030 and cement his legacy as a conservation champion by designating the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument. This widespread support for the monument, I think, would be a strong reason foranyPresident to designate the monument at any time in their term."
Why protect the Great Bend of the Gila
Various threats to the proposed national monument. These range from discarded trash and litter to vandalizing the ancient petro- and geoglyphs. Off-roading is also a concern. The activity can also damage geoglyphs and impact other cultural sites, cryptobiotic soils, plants, and animals.
Other concerns include:
- The potential for industrial energy development
- Sale or transfer of public lands to private interests
- Increased desertification driven by climate change
- The “choking” of native vegetation by invasive plant species, such as tamarisk
Learn more about the efforts to protect the Great Bend of the Gila here.
Click here to submit questions you have about metro Phoenix for a chance to be chosen for the podcast.
Follow Valley 101 and all azcentral podcastson X, formerly Twitterandon Instagram.
