Blog: HECHO’s HCLC members visit the Great Bend of the Gila, a precious Sonoran Desert landscape facing various threats
By Jessica Chavarria, HECHO’s Communications Coordinator
Located between Phoenix and Yuma, the Great Bend of the Gila is a beautiful Sonoran Desert landscape with tremendous cultural significance and one of the most biodiverse places in the country. Indigenous People have called this region home for millennia, and vibrant communities have flourished there due to the Gila River's life-sustaining waters.
HECHO brought Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council (HCLC) members, Adriana Garcia Maximiliano and Consuelo Hernandez, to the Great Bend of the Gila to experience its natural beauty firsthand and learn about the cultural richness, significance, and legacy, Native Americans, Spaniards, Mexicans, and Euro-Americans left behind.
After driving through the historic Gillespie Dam Bridge, HCLC and HECHO team members stopped where the imprints of a rich past are still visible today—dwellings, canals, pottery, trail systems, geoglyphs, and petroglyphs.
"This is my first time visiting the Great Bend of the Gila with HECHO. I knew there was history in the area, but seeing the petroglyphs in person and knowing how much history each petroglyph has, has been very impactful to me," said Consuelo Hernández, HCLC member and Arizona State Representative for District 21 in Tucson, Arizona.
"I come out to different places for recreational use, but it's important to also learn about the conservation efforts for places like the Great Bend of the Gila. It's a real shock to me and very impactful to see," said Adriana Garcia Maximiliano, HCLC member from Arizona.
Walking through this unique volcanic landscape that serves as a habitat and a corridor for animals crossing the Sonoran Desert, we witnessed the threats this special place faces.
"Seeing a lot of the bullet holes and the vandalism on the petroglyphs with so much rich history was shocking. We're in the middle of nowhere, and knowing that people are making it a point to come here and shoot at Native American rich history is impactful," shared Consuelo Hernández.
Many gun owners come to use this place as a shooting range, and the petroglyphs are sometimes their target.
Gun cartridges, glass bottles, beverage cans, random plastic pieces, food waste, and other garbage were found everywhere, harming the environment and wildlife at the Great Bend of the Gila.
"I think people aren't as connected to the desert or don't see the beauty, the nature, and the animals that are out here, and the history that we could be protecting," said Maximiliano, who felt disappointed to see that some people disrespect this sacred land.
Another concern is potential industrial energy development or sale of public land to developers, which could erase the vital history forever. Therefore, local communities, Tribes, conservationists, and some elected officials have recognized the need to advocate for and protect this special place.
Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced the Great Bend of the Gila Conservation Act. The bill will establish the 330,000-acre Great Bend of the Gila National Conservation Area, the 47,000-acre Palo Verde National Conservation Area, and nearly 60,000 acres of new wilderness.
"As a legislator, I have some power to make a difference. One of the call actions today is the need to ensure that we protect the Great Bend," said Hernandez, who is joining the voices to bring awareness of the importance of protecting the Great Bend of the Gila.
"I’m looking forward to being part of advocacy efforts to help protect the Great Bend and just bringing others along to learn about it and to help us make sure this sacred land is protected," said Maximiliano.
HECHO supports the Great Bend of the Gila Conservation Act to protect this unique Sonoran Desert landscape for future generations.