After 24 years, fish from Gila River deemed safe to eat PHOENIX -- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality lifts fish consumption advisory for Gila River and tributaries Check out this story on azcentral.com: http://azc.cc/1KLO6AO After almost a quarter of a century, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has removed its warning against eating fish taken from the Gila River. Fish in its waters flowing through and downstream from metro Phoenix are now safe to consume, thanks to the absence of pesticides like DDT, toxaphene and chlordane, the department said Wednesday.