JANUARY 11, 2000

INDIAN MESA DECLARED AGUA FRIA NATIONAL MONUMENT

Created by proclamation, by President Bill Clinton, the Agua Fria contains one of the most important systems of prehistoric sites in the American Southwest, including Pueblo La Plata, a major settlement of stone masonry pueblos.  The centerpiece is the canyon of the Agua Fria River, bordered by two mesas and split by smaller valleys.  The national monument was established not only to protect the ancient site and its ruins, pictographs, and petroglyphs, but also to protect the abundant natural life sustained by the river corridor.  The area is the home to coyotes, bobcats, antelope, mule deer, javelina, and a variety of small mammals and songbirds. Eagles and other raptors are also a draw for birdwatchers. Hiking, viewing cultural sites, wildlife viewing, hunting (big game and upland game birds), scenic drives, and four-wheel driving are among the activities available on the monument. The elevation ranges from 2,000 to 4,000 feet. 

Sources:  “Agua Fria National Monument,” Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior.  Retrieved 8/18/2019, https://www.blm.gov/node/8929
 John Crossley, "Agua Fria National Monument," The American Southwest. Retrieved 8/18/2019, https://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/agua_fria/national_monument.html
Photo:  Bureau of Land Management.  Date unknown.  Public Domain.