An Arizona congressman has proposed legislation to create a nearly 400,000-acre national monument that would protect one of the largest concentrations of petroglyphs and geoglyphs in the country. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., introduced the bill August 2.
If enacted into law, the measure would establish the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument. Approximately 376,963 acres of Bureau of Land Management land in southern Arizona, encompassing a region rich in cultural, historical, and natural significance, would gain the national monument designation.
“Representative Grijalva’s legislation . . . is critical to protect the Great Bend of the Gila,” said America Fitzpatrick, conservation program director for the League of Conservation Voters. “This iconic river valley and desert has been home to Indigenous communities for thousands of years, and the climate crisis and development are threatening the ecosystem, wildlife, and the local communities who rely on this diverse landscape.”
Proposed Monument Location and Boundaries
The proposed national monument is located in the Sonoran Desert between Phoenix and Yuma. The preserve’s boundaries would extend along a stretch of the Gila River, which winds through a diverse landscape of ancient lava flows, rugged mountains, and open desert, and include areas designated for resource protection, lands identified for potential acquisition, and existing wilderness areas. Key geographic features within the proposed monument include the Signal Mountain Wilderness, Woolsey Peak Wilderness, and North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness, showcasing the region’s rugged terrain and ecological diversity.
Cultural and Wilderness Characteristics
The Great Bend of the Gila is a cultural and ecological treasure, home to one of the largest concentrations of petroglyphs and geoglyphs in the United States. These ancient carvings and ground figures, created by Indigenous peoples over thousands of years, provide invaluable insights into the spiritual and cultural life of the region’s early inhabitants. The area also contains numerous archaeological sites, including remnants of prehistoric villages, irrigation canals, and trade routes that date back to the Patayan and Hohokam cultures. These cultural landmarks underscore the region’s significance as a crossroads for Indigenous communities and later settlers.
“The Great Bend of the Gila’s value as an ancestral and cultural landscape means it is paramount that Tribes have the opportunity to co-manage a Great Bend of the Gila National Monument if it is to be protected in the right ways,” said Skylar Begay, director of tribal collaboration for Archaeology Southwest. The proposed legislation would establish a Tribal Commission to co-manage the monument, ensuring that tribal knowledge and traditions are integral to its preservation.
Environmental Significance and Protection
The proposed national monument also aims to protect the area’s natural resources and wilderness characteristics. The region is part of the Sonoran Desert, one of the most biologically diverse deserts in North America. It serves as a critical habitat for various species, including the endangered Sonoran pronghorn and the desert tortoise. The monument’s designation would help safeguard these species’ habitats and migration corridors, contributing to broader conservation efforts across the Southwest.
The Great Bend of the Gila’s rugged landscape is characterized by its mountainous terrain, expansive desert vistas, and diverse flora and fauna. “Establishing this monument will also help to keep the lands more resilient to the impacts of climate change,” explained Sandy Bahr of the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter. The designation would protect these lands from threats such as urban expansion, vandalism, and resource extraction, ensuring their ecological integrity for future generations.
Community and Economic Impact
Support for the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument extends across a broad coalition of tribes, conservation groups, local businesses, and community leaders. “We’re profoundly grateful to Rep. Grijalva for his unwavering support of Tribally led efforts to protect the Great Bend of the Gila,” said Laiken Jordahl of the Center for Biological Diversity.
The establishment of the national monument is also expected to provide economic benefits by promoting tourism and outdoor recreation. The Conservation Alliance reports that Arizona’s outdoor recreation economy contributed $11.7 billion to the state’s gross domestic product last year, supporting more than 106,000 jobs. “The Great Bend of the Gila is not just a physical place but critical to our understanding of the rich diversity and culture of our state’s stories and history,” added Vianey Olivarría of Chispa Arizona.
Committee Consideration Next
Grijalva’s proposal reflects a concerted effort to protect and preserve a landscape of immense cultural, historical, and ecological value. “The time is now, and national monument designation is the right choice,” said Aaron Wright, a preservation anthropologist at Archaeology Southwest.
The bill must be considered by the House Committee on Natural Resources, on which Grijalva sits as ranking minority member, before floor consideration in the chamber is possible. According to the committee website no meeting at which markup of the legislation would occur is scheduled.
H.R. 9257 is co-sponsored by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.; Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind.; Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif.; Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo.; Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-NM; and Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev.
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