The Gila River in the Cliff-Gila Valley offers a reference system to study and communicate about a river with a near-natural flow regime. The river supports agriculture and diverse rural populations whose economies rely on the health of the river and other natural resources in the area. The Gila’s dynamic floodplain creates  a  mosaic of habitats which supports an abundance of wildlife, including rare and threatened species.  The future of the river’s flows remain uncertain as people consider water diversion and storage projects and regional precipitation patterns change.