Along the banks of the Gila River, generations of people have settled since ancient times, surviving the desert environment by hunting, farming and ranching in this lush river valley. Creating an ecologically diverse ribbon of life in an otherwise dry landscape, the Gila River also provides sustenance to a rich variety of plants and animals: more than 300 species of birds, several threatened and endangered species, and one of the most intact native fish communities in existence in the Lower Colorado River drainage.

“As a river is born deep inside the earth in springs that gather into streams and join to become a river, so people’s lives gather into families and communities and become part of the river of history.” 

- Wilma Dykeman, “The Tall Woman” (2000)

What's New?

UGWA heads up the Gila River Discovery Trunk Project. This project is a partnership between the Upper Gila Watershed Alliance, the Gila Conservation Education Center and the Gila Conservation Coalition. In this project, the three organizations will work together to develop 2-3 educational trunks based on the natural and cultural history of the Gila River.

The complexity of our relationship with the Gila River offers a unique opportunity for educators. When we study the river, we study the breadth of human knowledge and culture. The Gila River Discovery Trunk Project is designed to give educators resources to help students take advantage of this opportunity, and investigate our relationships to this significant river. The goal of the project is not to merely learn about the river, but to use the river as a context within which we can learn about ourselves.

The Gila River Discovery Trunk Project is focused on increasing the awareness of the natural and cultural heritage of the Gila River and its communities of life. It is a collaborative commitment to educate a new generation of river stewards and increase environmental literacy within the area.

Tres Alianzas! UGWA partners with the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and Sky Islands Alliance for another riparian restoration workshop in the Burros. Volunteers and professional stream restorationists gathered during the weekend of April 13-15, 2007, to rehabilitate an arroyo on a piece of private land in the Burros.

UGWA representatives continue to participate in the travel planning process on the Gila National Forest. By participating as a voice for the land, UGWA is working to ensure that recreation planning occurs within the context of healthy ecosystems. More...  

UGWA’s Forest Restoration Project in the Sapillo Creek area is a model for successful partnerships. Working in partnership with Gila WoodNet, Gila Conservation Education Center, and Center for Biological Diversity, this project is addressing water quality problems in Sapillo Creek. More...

Spring 2007 Newsletter
Download the pdf now
(788 Kb)