Upper Gila River Valley Erosion Control Project - Greenlee County AZ "The Black Hills Back Country Byway offers both outstanding scenery in the Peloncillo Mountains and some great examples of erosion control devices constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Gila River area was identified in 1934 as a Soil Conservation Service demonstration site. The Public Works Administration provided funding for 6,000 young laborers supervised by Soil Conservation Service and Department of Grazing advisers. Cemented rock dams, like the one found on the east side of the byway at mile post 13.4, stop waters from flowing across the land and destroying the roadway. Rock spreader dikes, loose lines of stone laid...