Gila River

The Gila River is a long river.

It flows through New Mexico and Arizona. It is part of the Colorado River system. Many people lived here for a long time. They used the water to grow food.

Today, the river is often very dry. This is because people use the water for farms. They also use it for big cities. People in Phoenix and Tucson use the water.

Some parts of the river have big dams. These dams hold back the water. This helps people have enough to drink.

There are many fish in the water. You might see a trout there.

It is a very special place in the desert.

The Gila River is a long river in the United States. It flows through New Mexico and Arizona. It is a part of the Colorado River system. Most of the river sits in Arizona. A small part of the land it drains is in Mexico.

Indigenous peoples lived here for at least 2,000 years. Groups like the Akimel O'odham lived along its banks. They built large farms using canals. These canals helped move water to plants. Later, European settlers arrived in the mid-19th century. They also used the river for farming.

Today, the river looks very different. It is often dry in the lower parts. This is because people build dams to hold water. The Coolidge Dam makes San Carlos Lake. People use this water for big cities. More than 6 million people in Phoenix and Tucson need it.

Even when it is dry, life stays in the river. There are 36 kinds of fish in the system. You might find a Gila trout there. Some parts of the river have white water. This is good for boating when it rains.

The Gila River is a major waterway in the United States. It flows through the states of New Mexico and Arizona. This river is a tributary of the Colorado River. A large part of the river's watershed is in Arizona. About 91.5% of the area sits in Arizona. Small parts of the land stretch into New Mexico and Mexico.

The river starts in the Black Range of New Mexico. It flows southwest through the Gila National Forest and the Gila Wilderness. It also passes the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. The water travels past Safford and through many canyons. Finally, the river empties into the Colorado River at Yuma, Arizona.

Many different rivers join the Gila along its long path. The East and West Forks come together near Gila Hot Springs. The San Francisco River and San Simon River join it near Safford. Later, the San Carlos River flows into San Carlos Lake. The San Pedro and Santa Cruz rivers also join the system. The Salt River is a very important tributary. It meets the Gila near the Phoenix metropolitan area. Near the end of its journey, the Agua Fria and Hassayampa rivers join in. These many streams help feed the main river.

Indigenous peoples have lived near the Gila for at least 2,000 years. The Akimel O'odham people call it Keli Akimel. They have lived on the banks since before Spanish explorers arrived. Long ago, the Hohokam people built a huge civilization here. They made over 500 miles of canals for farming. Other groups like the Mogollon lived in the upper Gila. They lived in places like the Gila Cliff Dwellings. For these people, the river is considered holy. They even use sand from the banks to bathe.

Today, the river looks much different than it did in the past. People built many large dams to control the water. The Coolidge Dam creates the large San Carlos Lake. Other dams like the Painted Rock Dam also exist. These structures help provide water to many people. More than 6 million people in Phoenix and Tucson use this water. Because of these diversions, the river is often dry. In its lower parts, it is mostly a dry rut. The historic flow has changed a lot over time.

Even with less water, the river system is full of life. There are 36 different species of fish in the system. You might see a largemouth bass or a channel catfish. The Gila trout is another special fish found here. Some parts of the river have white water for boating. This happens during spring snowmelt or after big storms. People enjoy fishing and boating on San Carlos Lake. The river can change very quickly during a flash flood. It is a place of constant change and wonder.

The Gila River is a significant waterway in the American Southwest. It is a tributary of the Colorado River. This means it flows into the Colorado River to help form it. The river drains a very large watershed. Most of this land is in Arizona, which accounts for 91.5% of the area. About 5.7% of the watershed is in New Mexico. The remaining 2.8% sits in northern Sonora, Mexico.

The river begins its journey in western New Mexico. Its source is in the Black Range of the Sierra County area. Specifically, it starts on the western slopes of the Continental Divide. From there, it flows southwest through several protected areas. These include the Gila National Forest and the Gila Wilderness. It also passes the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. The water moves through many canyons before entering Arizona near Safford. Eventually, it reaches Yuma, Arizona, to join the Colorado River.

Many different rivers join the Gila to increase its volume. The main stem is formed near Gila Hot Springs by the East and West Forks. As it moves, the San Francisco and San Simon rivers join the flow. The San Carlos River also flows into the system at San Carlos Lake. Further downstream, the San Pedro and Santa Cruz rivers add their water. The Salt River is the Gila's most important tributary. It joins the Gila near the Phoenix metropolitan area. Finally, the Agua Fria and Hassayampa rivers join the river near its end.

Indigenous peoples have a very deep connection to this river. The Akimel O'odham, or Gila River People, have lived here for at least 2,000 years. They consider the river to be holy. They have even used sand from the riverbanks as an exfoliant for bathing. Between 600 and 1450 AD, the Hohokam people built complex civilizations here. They relied on irrigated agriculture. To do this, they constructed over 500 miles of canals. In the upper Gila, the Mogollon culture lived in settlements like the Gila Cliff Dwellings.

European explorers arrived in the region during the 16th century. Juan de la Asunción may have been the first European to see the river in 1538. In 1540, Hernando de Alarcón sailed up the river. His expedition called the river the Miraflores or Brazos de la Miraflores. Later, the river served as a border between the United States and Mexico. This lasted until the 1853 Gadsden Purchase expanded American territory. In 1944, the river played a role in a famous escape. German prisoners of war tried to flee using a handmade kayak. They used a map that showed the Gila as a healthy blue waterway. In reality, the river was mostly a dry rut.

Modern engineering has changed the hydrology of the Gila River significantly. The river was once a perennial stream, meaning it flowed all year. It was even navigable by large riverboats. Today, much of the water is diverted for human use. The Coolidge Dam is the main dam on the river. It creates the large San Carlos Lake. The Ashurst-Hayden Diversion Dam also moves much of the water. These projects provide water to over 6 million people in Phoenix and Tucson. Because of these diversions, the river's flow has dropped. The historic natural discharge was much higher than the modern flow. Near its mouth, the average flow is now just 10 cubic feet per second.

Despite these changes, the river system remains a place of biological diversity. There are 36 different fish species in the system. These include the largemouth bass and the channel catfish. The Gila trout is another notable species found here. The river can also be used for recreation. During spring snowmelt or after big storms, parts of the river are navigable. It features whitewater ranging from Class I to Class III. People also enjoy boating and fishing on San Carlos Lake and other reservoirs. However, visitors must be careful of the desert weather. The river is known for erratic flows and sudden flash floods.