Gila River System Gets Major Upgrade: Bill Designates Hundreds of Miles as Wild & Scenic, Restricts New Mining

This bill, the "M. H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act," aims to give special protection to a huge network of rivers and creeks in New Mexico's Gila region. It officially designates numerous segments—totaling hundreds of miles—of the Gila River, its forks (East, Middle, West), and dozens of tributary creeks like Apache Creek, Mogollon Creek, and the San Francisco River, as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The core idea is to preserve these waterways in their relatively natural, free-flowing state for the long haul.

Locking Down the Landscape

So what does "Wild and Scenic" actually mean on the ground? Under Section 2, the federal land within the boundaries of these designated river segments gets pulled off the table for most new development. This includes:

• No new mining claims: Forget staking new claims or getting patents under mining laws.
• No new mineral or geothermal leases: Leasing for these resources is also prohibited.
• No selling off the land: The land is withdrawn from laws allowing public land disposal.

Essentially, it puts a freeze on new resource extraction within these specific river corridors, prioritizing conservation. The exact boundaries will be mapped out by the Forest Service or Interior Department (depending on who manages the land) and made public. They'll also have to create detailed management plans for each segment, working with tribes, local governments, and the public to figure out how best to protect the rivers' values, as required by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(d)).

What Stays the Same?

While the bill restricts new activities, Section 2 makes it clear that it's not wiping the slate clean. Existing rights are generally grandfathered in. This includes:

• Valid Mining Rights: If someone already holds legitimate mining rights, this bill doesn't automatically cancel them (per 16 U.S.C. 1283(b)).
• Grazing Permits: Existing permits or leases for livestock grazing can continue.
• Water Rights: Crucially, the designation doesn't mess with existing water rights or the framework set up by the Arizona Water Settlements Act.
• Tribal Rights: The bill explicitly states it doesn't change any treaty rights for Native American tribes regarding hunting, fishing, gathering, or cultural practices.
• State Authority: New Mexico keeps its jurisdiction over fish and wildlife management.

One interesting allowance is for native fish habitat restoration projects, even in designated wilderness areas, as long as they help threatened or endangered species and don't wreck the river's natural character.

Drawing New Lines: Gila Cliff Dwellings & Forest Boundaries

Beyond the rivers, Section 3 redraws a couple of administrative lines on the map. About 440 acres currently managed by the Gila National Forest (under the Secretary of Agriculture) will be transferred to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (managed by the Secretary of the Interior). The boundaries of both the Monument and the Forest will be officially updated to reflect this swap. This is mostly an administrative shift, likely aimed at consolidating management of lands relevant to the National Monument.