Making of Life On The Gila

The documentary Life on the Gila was filmed May of 2016 in Southwestern New Mexico. In that one-month period, the small documentary crew, consisting primarily of Director Jacob Rosdail and Producer Mary Harner, interviewed more than a dozen Gila residents about the river and their relation to it and the land it flows through. All photos by Mary Harner.

Nature Scenes from the Gila Valley

Located in the convergence of different types of deserts and mountain ranges, as well as sitting on the Continental Divide, the Gila River is a gorgeous oasis full of a diverse assemblage of flora and fauna. Additionally, the Gila’s water is used to support local agriculture through the use of ditch diversions. These diversions do not dramatically alter the river’s natural flow regime, so it is still considered free-flowing. It is one of the last rivers in the continental United States to have that designation. All photos by Mary Harner.