There are few places left in the Southwest where a river still runs free. The Gila River, winding through deep canyons, cottonwood forests and the heart of the first designated wilderness in the United States, is one of them. As New Mexico’s last remaining wild, undammed and free-flowing main-stem river, it serves as a lifeline for wildlife, nearby communities and all who seek solace in wilderness.
That story comes to life in “Journey Down the Gila,” a powerful and heartfelt film by Albuquerque filmmaker David Garcia. The feature-length documentary captures both the breathtaking beauty of the Gila and the story of three New Mexico teens who lost their lives in 2014 while studying and advocating for the river’s protection. Their passion for the Gila still inspires communities across the region, reminding us that protecting rivers is both a privilege and a responsibility.
On Thursday, Dec. 4, the Durango Arts Center will host a special one-night-only screening, with doors at 6:30 p.m. and the film at 7 p.m. After the screening, there will be an update on current Wild and Scenic legislation and ways attendees can support ongoing efforts to protect New Mexico’s last free-flowing river. Representatives from Durango-area organizations, including the San Juan Citizens Alliance, will also share updates about important river protection efforts across Southwest Colorado, highlighting how the health of these systems is interconnected across state lines.
In many ways, the film’s message has grown even more urgent. Since the documentary’s creation, the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic Rivers Act has been introduced into Congress four times, most recently by Sen. Martin Heinrich and Rep. Gabe Vasquez. This legislation carries forward the film’s vision of safeguarding the Gila’s wild character.
If passed, the act would permanently protect more than 400 miles of the Gila, the San Francisco and several tributary rivers by designating them under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the highest level of river protection under U.S. law. This designation would prevent new dams or major diversions while ensuring clean water, healthy ecosystems and continued public access for recreation and traditional uses. Less than 1% of rivers in the United States receive this level of protection. In Southwest Colorado and the Four Corners, rivers such as the Animas, Piedra and San Juan have been recognized for their outstanding natural values and identified as eligible for Wild and Scenic consideration – but none have been formally designated.
Since the 1960s, at least four major proposals to dam or divert the Gila have surfaced. As recently as 2021, a dam was proposed on the Lower San Francisco River that would have flooded miles of wilderness canyon. Although that project was withdrawn, similar threats will likely return unless these rivers receive durable, long-term protection. Colorado river advocates know this pattern well – year to year, flows and priorities shift, and without forward-thinking stewardship, future generations may inherit less than we do today.
The film offers more than stunning cinematography and powerful storytelling. It offers a moment for our community – from New Mexico to Southwest Colorado – to reflect on the rivers that sustain us, from the Gila to the Dolores, San Juan and Animas, and to engage in the work of protecting the waters that define our region.
Shelby Bazan is a Wyss Fellow Conservation Organizer with the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.
