The Gila Water Commissioner is appointed by the US District Court to administer the Globe Equity 59 Decree which controls use of the waters of the Gila River in the reach from above Virden, NM to its confluence with the Salt River west of Phoenix, AZ.
River Management Data
Patricia A. Doyle
Water commisioner
Legal Documents and Orders
GILA water commisioner
other information
The principal responsibility of the Commissioner is to administer the provisions of Globe Equity No. 59 Consent Decree (Gila Decree) for dividing the available water supply of the Gila River among the various right-holders–Gila River Indian Community, San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District, ASARCO, Town of Kearny, Winkelman agricultural users, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Gila Valley Irrigation District and Franklin Irrigation District. Duties include management of the Call System for determining Priority and Regulation Years for the various reaches of the river; recording and monitoring acres “Then Being Irrigated” by the parties; determining and tracking use of annual apportionments; track releases and diversions for the lower valley; authorize release of water from Coolidge Dam on the San Carlos Reservoir; oversee employees in the Safford office of the Commissioner; and resolve differences that arise among the users. Parties not satisfied with decisions of the Commissioner can petition the US District Court for relief.
| PATRICIA A. DOYLE | |
| Term: July 16, 2013 to present | |
| Appointed By: The Honorable Susan R Bolton U.S. District Court, Phoenix AZ (July 1, 2014) | |
| Education: BS in General Science (Biology/Geology), Western New Mexico University | |
| Previous Experience: Acting Gila Water Commissioner July 16 2013 to July 1, 2014, Water Specialist July 2003 to June 2005 under Commissioner Weesner and Assistant Commissioner June 1, 2005 to July 16, 2013 under Commissioner Allred | |
| Other Personal and Community Information: | |
| JON W. ALLRED | |
| Term: June 1, 2005 to July 16, 2013 (8 yr) | |
| Appointed By: The Honorable Susan R Bolton U.S. District Court, Phoenix AZ | |
| Previous Experience: Interim Gila Water Commissioner January 1 1992 to February 28, 1992, Assistant Commissioner March 1992 to May 31, 2005 under Commissioner Weesner | |
| Other Personal and Community Information: | |
| DONALD L. WEESNER | |
| Term: January 16, 1992 to May 31, 2005 (13+ yr) | |
| Appointed By: The Honorable John C. Coughenour, U.S. District Court, Phoenix AZ | |
| Education: BS in Mechanical Engineering, The University of Arizona; Industrial Management Institute, Arizona State University; numerous short courses on management and technology | |
| Previous Experience: General Manager, San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District; Assistant General Manager for Water, Salt River Project; engineering consultant | |
| Other Personal and Community Information: Member, many professional organizations; numerous local and regional advisory boards and committees | |
| GEORGE E. GREINER | |
| Term: September 22, 1967 to December 31, 1991 (24 yr) | |
| Appointed By: The Honorable James A. Walsh, U.S. District Court, Phoenix AZ (September 9, 1974) | |
| Education: Long Beach Junior College, University of Oklahoma | |
| Previous Experience: Acting Gila Water Commissioner September 22, 1967 to September 9, 1974; employee, Gila Water Commissioner’s office, November 1, 1944 to September 9 1967 under Commissioners Firth and Dungan; U.S. Geological Survey, Safford | |
| Other Personal and Community Information: Married to Ada Louise, 2 daughters Georgeanne and Margaret; Mason and member of York Rite Bodies; Life Member, Mt. Graham Golf course; avid bass fisherman; after retirement, resided in Safford until his death in 2004 | |
| GERALD K. DUNGAN | |
| Term: December 1, 1947 to September 20, 1967 (20 yr) | |
| Appointed By: The Honorable Howard C. Speakman, U.S. District Court, Tucson AZ (September 9, 1974) | |
| Previous Experience: Employee, Gila Water Commissioner’s office, May 1, 1943 to December 1 1947 under Commissioner Firth; Phelps Dodge Corporation, Morenci AZ | |
| Other Personal and Community Information: Married to Dorothy, 2 children, Mickie and Gerald; active in Masonry, in the Blue Lodge and York Rite Bodies; killed September 20, 1967 in an automobile accident on the Safford Bridge | |
| CHARLES A. FIRTH | |
| Term: November 12, 1935 to November 23, 1947 (12 yr) | |
| Appointed By: The Honorable Albert M. Sames, U.S. District Court, Tucson AZ | |
| Education: BS in Engineering, The University of Arizona | |
| Previous Experience: Irrigation projects in central Arizona, Registered Land Surveyor | |
| Other Personal and Community Information: Married to Mamie, 2 sons Harry and Richard; Sergeant in 20th Engineers, WWI; Mason, American Legion and Rotary Club; Firth Park in Safford is named for him; died November 23, 1947 | |
| Date | Item | Event |
1833 | Flood in Gila River | Earliest known |
July 1, 1852 | Treaty of Santa Fe (rights of Apache Indians) | Signed |
February 28, 1859 | Gila River Pima/Maricopa Indian Community (GRIC) | Created by US Congress |
1867 | Rainfall in Gila Valley | Earliest records made |
1868 | Lower Gila River above GRIC | First non-Indian agricultural use of water |
1870 | Safford Valley | Irrigation by non-Indian settlers (approximate) |
1874 | Duncan-Virden Valley | Irrigation by non-Indian settlers |
1895 | Measurements of Gila River Flow | Started by USGS |
June 7, 1897 | San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation | Established (division of White Mountain Indian Reservation) |
March 3, 1905 | 10,000 acres along San Tan Canal (GRIC) | Funds allocated for irrigation |
April 28, 1905 | Doan Decree | Enacted |
July 18, 1912 | Shute Decree (Ash Creek) | Enacted |
April 6, 1916 | Lockwood Decree | Enacted |
May 18, 1916 | Florence-Casa Grande Irrigation Project | Authorized and funded |
1922 | Franklin Irrigation District (FID) | Incorporated |
June 30, 1922 | Ashurst-Hayden (formerly Florence) Dam | Completed |
1923 | Gila Valley Irrigation District (GVID) | Incorporated |
June 7, 1924 | San Carlos Irrigation Project (includes Coolidge Dam) | Authorized and funded |
June 1925 | Sacaton Dam | Completed |
October 2, 1925 | Lawsuit to adjudicate the waters of the Gila River | Filed by US Government |
November 19, 1925 | Post-Doan (Jenckes) Decree | Enacted |
November 28, 1927 | Ling Decree | Entered |
July 16, 1928 | San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District (SCIDD) | Organized |
November 1928 | Coolidge Dam | Completed |
1929 | Storage behind Coolidge Dam (San Carlos Reservoir) | Began |
1930 | Coolidge Dam (San Carlos Reservoir) | First release for irrigation |
June 29, 1935 | Globe Equity 59 Consent Decree | Signed |
April 27, 1936 | Ling Decree | Amended |