Fred J. Weiler Green Belt Special Management Area

Segments C, D and part of E of the lower Gila River contain BLM-administered public lands encompassed within the Fred. J. Weiler Green Belt Management Area. Virtually all riparian habitat along the lower Gila River channel is salt-cedar and mesquite thickets and salt-bush flats. Cottonwoods and willows are limited. The Fred J. Weiler Green Belt, managed by the BLM and the Arizona Game & Fish Department (AGFD), consists of approximately 63,000 acres in the southwest region of Maricopa County. The green belt extends along the Gila River from the Sierra Estrella Regional Park to a point 12 miles west of Dateland, Arizona. The U.S. Department of the Interior determined in 1968 that the green belt would be retained under the Classification for Multiple Use Act of 1964, then designated the area the Fred J. Weiler Green Belt Special Recreation Area in 1970. Both classifications were established to enable management of wildlife habitat, flood and erosion control, and recreation opportunities The green belt contains habitat for the Federally endangered Yuma clapper rail and the Western yellow-billed cuckoo, a Federally listed candidate species.

Segment A - Hayden Dam to the Gila River Indian Community Reservation (East Boundary)

No resource values identified.

Segment B – Gila River Indian Community Reservation

No resource values identified.

Segment C - Gila River Indian Community Reservation (North Boundary) to Gillespie Dam.

Base and Meridian Wildlife Area (B&M)): The AGFD manage 200 acres of river and adjacent riparian habitat at the confluence of the Salt River and Gila River just west of the Phoenix metropolitan area. B&M contains riparian vegetation assemblages of cottonwood, willow, salt cedar, seep willow and desert broom and mesquite.

The goal for management of the B&M area is to optimize the habitat for wildlife and wildlife-oriented recreation. The area is fully devoted to waterfowl and riparian management.

Wetland and riparian habitats within B&M area provide critical nesting, cover and food resources for many avian species, including sensitive species. The riparian habitat common to the Gila River is recognized as the highest quality nesting habitat for white-winged dove in Arizona. The property is equally valuable for mourning dove nesting. Other species of significant value are Gambel's quail, coots and other shorebirds. A host of bird, mammal, and reptile species use the area because of its proximity to the river. Wildlife may include: Common yellowthroat, great blue heron, belted kingfisher, and Western screech-owl.

Special Status Species occurring on the B&M includes the Federally endangered Yuma clapper rail and the Western yellow-billed cuckoo, a Federally listed candidate species. Potential habitat for the following special status species may also occur near the area: Lowland leopard frog, Ferruginous hawk, Great egret, Loggerhead shrike, Osprey, American peregrine falcon, Southwestern willow flycatcher, California leaf-nosed bat, Greater Western mastiff bat, and Sonoran desert tortoise.

Robbins Butte Wildlife Area: The Robbins Butte Wildlife Area (RBWA) is located approximately seven miles southwest of Buckeye, Arizona, comprising approximately 1,681 acres. RBWA is one of two areas along the Gila River with the greatest potential for waterfowl habitat enhancement. Vegetative cover is a diverse mixture including dense salt cedar thickets, willows and cattail in the river bottom; mature mesquite on the river terrace; saltbush and shrub-sized mesquite upland areas.

The primary management emphasis at RBWA is to provide food crops and nesting habitat for upland game birds. Secondary management emphasis includes enhancing riparian habitat and the riparian-desert upland ecotone. A combination of wildlife food crops, natural foods and nesting habitat attracts many breeding white-winged and mourning doves. Amphibians and reptiles also are common; a minimum of 19 reptile species reside at RBWA.

RBWA is the center of the annual Gila River Christmas Bird Count, and over 115 species of winter-resident birds have been observed in the vicinity. In addition, many raptors winter in and near RBWA, including the White-tailed Kite. The summer avian community has not been counted, but species numbers probably exceed those of winter.

Special Status Species occurring on or near the Robbins Butte Wildlife Area includes the Federally endangered Yuma clapper rail, and the Western yellow-billed cuckoo, a Federally listed candidate species. Those special status species that potentially occur on the RBWA include Great egret, Snowy egret, and Western yellow bat.

Powers Butte Wildlife Area: The Powers Butte Wildlife Area (PBWA) encompasses 1,120 acres. The area is managed for the enhancement of its riparian and aquatic habitats.

Mourning doves, white-winged doves, Gambel's quail, and cottontail rabbits inhabit the area. Particularly abundant during migration and in the winter, various birds, including a wide assortment of hawks and other birds of prey, find food and shelter within the bounds of this wildlife area as well.

The 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant, local agriculture, intermittent tributary flows, and groundwater all feed the Gila River through the wildlife area, creating dense stands of salt cedar, and marsh and wetland habitats. Powers Butte, a steep knoll formed by volcanic boulder, provides an overlook to the surrounding valley and river.

Riparian habitats are the most noticeable plant life on the area. The most common plants are salt cedar and mesquite. Salt cedar was introduced to Arizona many years ago and does not naturally occur here. Most of the original cottonwood and willow trees have been replaced with salt cedar. The upper flood plain, which once was a mesquite forest, also contains a lot of salt cedar.

This area is highly valued for its protection of sensitive species and habitats in Arizona. With appropriate enhancement, the amount and quality of riparian and wetland habitats can be increased, and diversified to support more species that depend on such areas. The salt cedar, which has replaced most of the native riparian trees in the area, provides good nesting places for doves.

Arlington Wildlife Area: The Arlington Wildlife Area (AWA) is located along the west bank of the Gila River and is approximately 1,500 acres. The AWA is managed to optimize the habitat potential of the property for wildlife and for present and future generations of the public to enjoy wildlife-oriented recreation

The wildlife area has an extensive stand of salt cedar and about 4 miles of river channel, including running water, cattails and other emergent vegetation, sand and gravel bars, and riparian trees such as cottonwood, willow and salt cedar. The AWA is particularly favorable as a location for limited-mobility hunters to gain access for duck hunting. This area also has a very high value for its dove-nesting habitat. The Federally endangered Yuma clapper rail also is a regular nesting species in the ponds and along the river.

The water ponds attract numerous waterfowl and shorebirds. The Yuma clapper rails nest on site. The salt-cedar bosque provides nesting habitat for red-winged blackbirds, doves, and other riparian bird species. The salt-cedar bosque also provides cover for various mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Special-status species occurring on or near the AWA include the Federally endangered Yuma clapper rail and the western yellow-billed cuckoo, a Federally listed candidate species.

Urban communities on Segment C, including Buckeye and Goodyear, have proposed master plans for “river greenbelts” and recreation sites along the river. Plans include the Tres Rios Master Plan and the El Rio Master Plan along a portion of the Gila River. These areas would be intensely managed recreation sites with trails, ponds, lakes, sports areas, and other urban recreation uses. All the plans are under consideration at this time.

Segment D - Gillespie Dam to Painted Rock Dam

Public land ownership within the river bed is quite limited within Segment D. Public lands within the river bed channel are part of the Fred. J. Weiler Green Belt and managed for riparian and wildlife values. The area above Painted Rocks Dam has limited value for wildlife.

Anza National Historic Trail (NHT): The NHT enters this segment north of Gila Bend and extends down the river corridor to the Colorado River and Yuma, Arizona. The BLM is mandated to maintain and protect the historic and cultural resources within the NHT corridor as defined by Federal law.

Gila Trail Special Recreation Management Area: This management area enters Segment D north of Gila Bend and extends down the river corridor to the Maricopa County/Yuma County line. The area includes lands surrounding the Gila Trail, the Butterfield Overland Stage Route, the Anza National Historic Trail, the Southern Overland Trail, the Mormon Battalion Trail, the Oatman Massacre Site, and the Painted Rock Mountains and associated cultural and recreational features.

Segment E - Painted Rock Dam to the Colorado River

This river segment has the most BLM-administered public land. Many of the public lands are encompassed by the Fred J. Weiler Green Belt. The segment’s most noted cultural and riparian values are enclosed within the following areas:

Quigley Wildlife Management Area (QWMA): The QWMA contains approximately 622 acres consisting of two major open-water areas, idle farmland, large stands of salt cedar and open-water areas characterized by emergent vegetation such as cattail. The area is managed to restore, enhance, and manage wetland habitat, including open water and marsh, riparian and associated upland wildlife habitats; and to provide public opportunities for wildlife viewing, education, research, hunting and fishing.

Wetland and riparian habitats within the QWMA provide critical nesting, cover and food resources for many avian species. The low water depths and emergent vegetation such as cattail and bulrush make excellent nesting substrate for a large number of waterfowl species. Other wildlife species supported by the wetlands at QWMA include shorebirds, game and nongame fish, game and nongame birds, and amphibians. The marsh habitat at QWMA has in the past supported four to six pairs of the endangered Yuma clapper rail, and appropriate habitat exists for the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher, although nesting has not been documented.

The upland habitats currently provides significant nesting habitat for white-winged and mourning doves.

Special-status species occurring on or near the QWMA include the American bittern, great egret, loggerhead shrike, osprey, snowy egret, southwestern willow flycatcher, western least bittern, and white-faced ibis.

Sear’s Point Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC): The BLM manages all cultural resources in the river channel under the Antiquities Act of 1906. The Painted Rocks area and Sears Point Cultural ACECprotect significant rock art and cultural areas of importance to local and regional Indian nations and tribes.

Gila Trail Special Recreation Management Area: This management area includes lands surrounding the Gila Trail, the Butterfield Overland Stage Route, the Anza National Historic Trail, the Southern Overland Trail, the Mormon Battalion Trail, the Oatman Massacre Site, and the Painted Rock Mountains and associated cultural and recreational features.

Anza National Historic Trail (NHT): The NHT enters this segment north of Gila Bend and extends down the river corridor to the Colorado River and Yuma, Arizona. The BLM is mandated to maintain and protect the historic and cultural resources within the NHT corridor as defined by Federal law.