The Gila River winds through the Gila National Forest in western New Mexico before making its way to Arizona. Michael Melford/ National Geographic

The Gila National Forest in western New Mexico spans 3.3 million acres of wild and ecologically sensitive lands, with habitat for bighorn sheep, mountain lion, coatimundi, black bear, and other species, and hundreds of miles of free-flowing rivers that provide clean drinking water to downstream communities. The forest is popular with boaters, anglers, backpackers, and other outdoor enthusiasts.

The rugged landscapes of western New Mexico inspired forester, author, and conservationist Aldo Leopold’s lifelong advocacy for durable, effective federal land protections. In June 1924, Leopold persuaded the regional forester to establish the Gila Wilderness Area—an administrative regional order with no promise of permanence but, nonetheless, the first wilderness area officially designated by the federal government.

Forty years later, in part due to Leopold’s vision, Congress passed the Wilderness Act of 1964, which lawmakers have since used to permanently protect nearly 112 million acres throughout the country. These lands include more than half a million acres of wilderness within the Gila National Forest.

In January, the U.S. Forest Service released a draft revision of its plan for the Gila National Forest—the first comprehensive update to the plan in almost 35 years—which will guide how the agency manages western New Mexico’s pristine rivers and untrammeled and ecologically critical lands. There is now a short window of opportunity for the public to work with the forest planners to ensure that the plan balances conservation, development, and recreation for decades to come.

As part of the plan revision process, the forest planners for the Gila National Forest evaluated the forest’s wilderness characteristics and identified many areas within the Gila as “outstanding” and deserving of greater protection. Yet the forest planners are not recommending them for protection in the final plan. River protections in the draft plan are also minimal. The Gila and San Francisco rivers and their tributaries within the forest make up one of the largest undammed watersheds in the Lower 48 states, supporting endangered species, fishing and boating, and ferrying clean water to farmers and cities in the region.

A community-led proposal has called for protecting more than 440 miles of these waterways as Wild and Scenic Rivers, and forest planners agree with much of what the community has recommended. However, although the draft plan recommends wild and scenic designation for 240 miles of water, it excludes as many as 200 miles of rivers and tributaries identified by the community proposal as remarkable and deserving of protection.

Here are examples of waters and lands that merit greater protection than what’s proposed in the draft plan:

Taylor Creek

Taylor Creek holds significant cultural resources, including cliff dwellings, caves, and petroglyphs, shown here. Nathan Newcomer

The Taylor Creek river corridor is lush with old-growth Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, Southwestern white pine, narrowleaf cottonwood, box elder, Gamble’s oak, and alligator juniper. The river’s central and western reaches rush through narrow canyon walls that rise more than 800 feet.

Mogollon Box/Tadpole Ridge

With its steep, rugged terrain and deep canyons, Mogollon Box provides excellent opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation, such as paddling. Nathan Newcomer

Stretching from the Mogollon Box in the west to Tadpole Ridge in the east, this large area contains 8 miles of the free-flowing Gila River and its tributaries. Only 15 miles from Silver City, New Mexico, Tadpole Ridge offers visitors expansive views in every direction, including into the adjacent Gila Wilderness.

Gila Middle Box

From hiking along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail to running whitewater rapids and floating placid stretches of river, the Gila Middle Box area provides tremendous opportunities for primitive recreation in a wild setting. Nathan Newcomer

With rugged mountainous terrain cleaved by the lush Gila River corridor, the Gila Middle Box provides critical habitat for several threatened and endangered species, including the endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher and threatened yellow-billed cuckoo.

Lower San Francisco

Bighorn sheep, such as these crossing the Lower San Francisco River Canyon, are common in the Gila National Forest. Rich riparian habitat along this river supports numerous species, including bighorn sheep, mountain lion, coatimundi, black bear, and white-tailed and mule deer. Hot springs and other geologic features along the river attract picnickers, while the area’s uplands offer sweeping vistas. Alison Flint

San Francisco River—Devil's Creek

The 20-mile-long Devil’s Creek is the longest stretch of the free-flowing river on ancestral lands in the Gila National Forest, and provides opportunities for some of the state’s best multiday backpacking, horseback riding, mule trips, and kayaking. This remote, rugged area affords ample opportunity for solitude. Nathan Newcomer

The Gila National Forest’s natural and cultural value, and recreational allure, are significant economic drivers for the towns and cities that surround the forest, and it’s vital that the Forest Service safeguard those benefits. The agency is accepting public comments on its draft revised plan—which will guide management of the forest for the next 15 years or more—through April 16th. You can comment on the plan here.

Nicole Cordan oversees Pew’s U.S. river corridor protection work and leads the team’s efforts to restore free-flowing rivers in the West to allow safe passage for salmon and other aquatic species.

John Seebach leads Pew’s efforts on wilderness protection and national forest planning, partnering with organizations and decision-makers to secure permanent protection for public lands and rivers across the western United States.