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On August 2, 2024, the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument Establishment Act (H.R.9257) was introduced by House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ)—a bill that seeks to protect a rich cultural landscape in the southwestern United States.

The legislation would designate a nearly 400,000-acre Great Bend of the Gila National Monument, and also establish a tribal commission that prioritizes co-stewardship by at least 13 federally recognized tribes with cultural and ancestral ties to the region.

The National Trust has supported efforts to preserve Great Bend of the Gila for many years due to the region’s historic and cultural significance, including multiple sites like Sears Point and Paint Rock Petroglyph Site, which are on the National Register of Historic Places.

We are hopeful that Congress will support efforts to preserve this significant landscape.

On August 16, Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) introduced the Great Bend of the Gila Conservation Act (H.R. 8719) which would establish the 330,000-acre Great Bend of the Gila National Conservation Area, the 47,000-acre Paolo Verde National Conservation Area, and nearly 60,000 acres of new wilderness.

The legislation also includes provisions that would enhance the role of tribal governments in the land management process. The National Trust and our partners have long advocated for the protection of the unique and sacred Great Bend of the Gila landscape—one of the most significant cultural sites in the Southwest where at least 13 federally recognized tribes maintain cultural connections.

The bill is the latest iteration of legislation that the Trust has advocated for as part of the Great Bend of the Gila campaign, and more details about the bill provisions can be found on a House Natural Resources Committee fact sheet.

On June 22, 2016, Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) reintroduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that seeks national monument designation for the extraordinary cultural and historic resources of the Great Bend of the Gila in southern Arizona’s Maricopa and Yuma counties. The following is a statement by Stephanie K. Meeks, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation:

“The Great Bend of the Gila is an irreplaceable treasure that has long been in need of the recognition, resources and protection that a national monument designation will provide.The lands included in the proposed national monument form a crossroads of cultures, a rich overlay of history, tradition and sacred areas.”

“This designation will help protect lands and resources sacred to many Arizona tribes, while also bringing economic benefits to both Maricopa and Yuma counties through increases in cultural and heritage tourism. A national monument designation at this site will be an important win for residents of Maricopa and Yuma, for the protection of Native American history, and for the millions of Americans who champion the preservation of America’s rich and diverse heritage.”

The Trust applauds Congressman Grijalva for his strong support as the sponsor of this legislation. As direct result of a ground-up campaign with stakeholder input, the development of the bill’s language reflects the ideas and concerns expressed over several years of meetings with local communities and partners. Through ongoing efforts at the Great Bend of the Gila, the Trust looks forward to engaging increased public awareness during the legislative process.

For more information on the significance of the cultural resources and natural landscape encompassed within the Great Bend of the Gila national monument proposal, please see the recent, in-depth study released by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Archaeology Southwest, The Great Bend of the Gila: A Nationally Significant Cultural Landscape.

A new, in-depth study released by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Archaeology Southwest provides a historical and tribal perspective on the significance of the cultural resources and natural landscape encompassed within the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument Proposal, 84,000-acres of Bureau of Land Management Land along a stretch of the lower Gila River in southwest Arizona.

The Great Bend of the Gila: A Nationally Significant Cultural Landscape is co-authored by experts on the history, archaeology, and tribal significance of the area. It details 12,000 years of human history along this river corridor, as documented by an array of treasures that remain today, including petroglyphs, geoglyphs, ancient trails, historic roads, and a civil war site.

Download a copy here and be sure to come back to SavingPlaces.org for more information about this National Treasure and our progress on the project.