The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 created the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The Act established a policy of preserving free-flowing rivers or river segments.
Now, New Mexico U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall have introduced the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
The Greater Gila watershed, including the San Francisco River and other main tributaries, is the largest remaining network of naturally flowing river segments in the Southwestern United States.
Earlier this year, the Senators and community leaders talked about the effort to protect the Gila.
Senator Udall says it’s also about protecting wildlife and encouraging the tourism economy.
“The Gila Watershed is the most biologically diverse in our state, home to 14 native fish, including four that are not found anywhere else in the world. Bobcat, cougar, mule deer, black bear, the gray fox, and other species roam the wilderness that provides refuge for some of the greatest bird diversity in the country. And for thousands of years, the rivers and streams in these areas sustained indigenous communities. It’s no surprise then that the Gila is one of New Mexico’s most popular outdoor destinations, drawing birders, hikers, rafters, kayakers, fishers, hunters, to its immense natural grandeur,” said Udall.
Udall and Heinrich’s bill, which would protect nearly 450 miles of the Gila and San Francisco Rivers and their tributaries, is named for Silver City conservationist “Dutch” Salmon. The publisher passed away in 2019 after many years of fighting for the Gila.
Jamie Crockett of Gila Backcountry Services says the bill would not only protect the region, but also provide an economic boost.
“I see as a benefit more exposure for an area with a small tourism economy. Ecotourism is a growing industry, and we expect that this protection for our watershed will encourage needed economic diversity and development,” said Crockett.
You may wonder about the logic of introducing a bill like this in the middle of pandemic. But Senator Martin Heinrich says it makes perfect sense. And he pointed to President Teddy Roosevelt when explaining the timing. Roosevelt is often called the “conservation President,” and Heinrich says he understood that great things can come during the most difficult times.
“Roosevelt said, conservation means development as much as it does protection. And he was right. More than a hundred years since we began implementing Teddy Roosevelt’s vision for conservation, we have seen time and again that the very act of protecting our public lands and waters can serve as one of greatest economic drivers. And some of our nation’s greatest periods of long-lasting conservation legacies came after economic downturns like the Great Depression and the great recession. Thanks in large part to the last decade of conservation victories in New Mexico, the outdoor recreation industry was fueling some of our fastest job growth, particularly in our rural communities, just before the pandemic hit,” said Heinrich.
For Grant County Commissioner Chris Ponce, protecting the Gila is not only an economic and environmental priority, it’s about protecting a way a life.
“I was born and raised here in Grant County. The Gila and the San Francisco Rivers in southwest New Mexico have been a big part of my life and my family’s life. For generations, these rivers have been enjoyed by many families. The rivers played a big part in my upbringing. I remember going to the Gila River with my parents on the weekends and holidays, fishing, swimming, picnicking. Very important when you’re growing up as a young man. And I’m taking these traditions to my family now. The Gila and San Francisco Rivers hold many memories of times spent with my family and friends. This is a way of life for many people here in southwest New Mexico.
The future of the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic Rivers Act may very well depend on the results of the November election, as it requires passage by the House and Senate and must be signed by the President, unless it gains enough support to overturn a veto.