Gila Wilderness

Gila Wilderness

Infobox_protected_area | name = Gila Wilderness
iucn_category = Ib



caption =
locator_x = 77
locator_y = 123
location = New Mexico, USA
nearest_city = Silver City, New Mexico
lat_degrees = 33
lat_minutes = 14
lat_seconds = 25
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 108
long_minutes = 16
long_seconds = 51
long_direction = W
area = convert|558014|acre|km2|1|abbr=on
established = 1924
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = United States Forest Service

Gila Wilderness was designated the world's first wilderness area on June 3, 1924. [ [http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&wid=205 Gila Wilderness] at wilderness.net.] Along with Aldo Leopold Wilderness and Blue Range Wilderness, the convert|558014|acre|km2|1|abbr=on wilderness is part of New Mexico's Gila National Forest. The wilderness is approximately convert|27|mi|km|0 from north to south and convert|39|mi|km|0 east to west. [http://www2.nature.nps.gov/views/KCs/Wilderness/HTML/ET_07_UpClose.htm Wilderness up close] at the National Park Service] The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is found within the wilderness. [ [http://www.nps.gov/gicl/ Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument] at the National Park Service.]

Gila Wilderness is located in southwest New Mexico, north of Silver City and wrapping around Reserve. It contains the West Fork, Middle Fork and much of the East Fork of the Gila River; riverside elevations of around convert|5000|ft|m|-2|abbr=on are the lowest in the wilderness. The Mogollon Mountains traverse an arc across the southwest of the wilderness. The tallest peak within this range, Whitewater Baldy at convert|10895|ft|m|0|abbr=on, anchors the western point of the wilderness. At the northeast corner is Black Mountain at convert|9287|ft|m|0|abbr=on. [ [http://www2.srs.fs.fed.us/r3/gila/publications/docs/forestmap.pdf Gila National Forest map] ]

History

The Mimbres people, a subgroup of the Mogollon were active between 1000 and 1130 in the Gila Wilderness area, leaving cliff dwellings, ruins and other evidence of their culture. The Chiricahua band of Apache came into the area between 1200 and 1600. Because of their fierce protectiveness, the area remained undeveloped into the 1870s. [ [http://www.nps.gov/archive/gicl/adhi/adhi0a.htm Gila Cliff Dwellings] at the National Park Service.] In 1922, Aldo Leopold, a United States Forest Service supervisor of the Carson National Forest proposed that the headwaters area of the Gila River should be preserved by an administrative process of excluding roads and denying use permits. Through his efforts, this area became recognized in 1924 as the first wilderness area in the National Forest System. [ [http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/centennial/leopold.shtml Aldo Leopold] at the US Forest Service.] Gila became first congressionally designated wilderness of the National Wilderness Preservation System when the Wilderness Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

Flora and fauna

A variety of ecosystems are found in this transition zone between the Chihuahuan Desert and Rocky Mountains. The wilderness includes mesquite, Apache Pine and is the northern-most range of the Chihuahua Pine. [http://www.nmwild.org/wilderness/gila Gila Wilderness] at New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.] Gila contains one of the world's largest and healthiest Ponderosa Pine forests. [ [http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/na/na0503_full.html Arizona Mountains forests] ] Arizona Sycamore, walnut, maple, ash, cottonwood, alder and willow trees are found along rivers and in canyons.

Gila is home of predators such as the Bobcat and Cougar. Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer and Pronghorn are all found in the Wilderness. Other mammals include the American Black Bear, Javelina and Coatimundi. The critically endangered Mexican wolf was reintroduced to the wilderness in 1988 with eleven captive-raised individuals. Most died or were killed and more were released the following year. [ [http://www.cec.org/trio/stories/index.cfm?varlan=english&ed=3&ID=32 Guided tours to help gray wolf’s come-back] at Commission for Environmental Cooperation.] As of 2006, four packs have established themselves within Gila. [ [http://www.fieldtripearth.org/article.xml?id=1110&ordinal=2 Mexican Wolf Monthly Report: December 2006] ] Because of conflicts with livestock owners, the federal predator control program has killed or removed several animals. [ [http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/PRESS/wolf-shot-07-07-2006.html Federal Government Kills Another Endangered Mexican Gray Wolf] at Center for Biological Diversity.]

Bighorn Sheep were common throughout the region until about 1900 when they became locally extinct through hunting. Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep were reintroduced to the Gila Wilderness after 1958 from a growing herd of Canadian releases in the Sandia Mountains. [ [http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/49678.html Bighorn rooted in state's history.] ] Elk were reintroduced by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish in 1954 with sixteen animals from Yellowstone National Park. [ [http://www.fws.gov/news/historic/1956/19560219.pdf Interstate Swaps and Purchases Aid Game Restoration Program] at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.]

Game birds include Turkey and Dusky Grouse; birds of prey include Common Black Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, Goshawk, Osprey and Bald Eagle; American Dippers are found in mountain streams. The wilderness is home to the largest population of Near Threatened Mexican Spotted Owls, which prefer Douglas-fir or white fir stands and can be found in Ponderosa Pine forests with a well-developed Gambel oak understory. [ [http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mso/RecoveryUnitDetail.cfm?Unit=Gila Mexican Spotted Owl Recovery Program] at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.]

Reptiles such as the Arizona Coral Snake and Gila Monster are present. Brown trout, rainbow trout, catfish and bass are found in rivers and streams. The endangered Gila trout is present in Iron, McKenna and Spruce Creeks. It prefers sufficiently deep water, such as American Beaver ponds, which provide hiding places and can withstand both floods and drought. [ [http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/species/gtrout/index.HTML Gila Trout] at Center for Biological Diversity.]

Recreation

The Gila Wilderness provides opportunities for fishing, hunting, backpacking, horseback riding and camping. It has miles of trails starting at over fifty easily accessible trailheads. A visitor center near the cliff dwellings site is about two hours north of Silver City, New Mexico on State Route 15. Hot springs are found within the wilderness. Because it is a wilderness, visitors must minimize their impact on the natural environment by observing the Leave No Trace principles.

In 2007, a hiker was found alive after being lost 40 days in the Gila Wilderness, setting a new state record for the number of days for a lost person to be found alive. It is not uncommon for hikers to become lost in the Gila; some are never found. [ [http://lcsun-news.com/ci_5021134 Hiker sets state record while enduring cold, snow] at Las Cruces Sun-News.]

References


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