It is bounded to the northeast by the Nantec Rim and to the southwest by the Gila Mountains. Elevation ranges from over 7,000 feet above mean sea level on the Nantec Rim to about 3,200 feet above mean sea level at the confluence of the Gila River and Bonita Creek. Bonita Creek is perennial from about the San Carlos Indian Reservation boundary, south to its confluence with the Gila River. The Bonita Creek basin is divided informally into the upper and lower areas.
Alluvial deposits including floodplain and channel gravel deposits occur in stream courses.
Very few wells exist in the upper Bonita Creek area. Most tap the valley-fill material, are low capacity, and are used for stock purposes. The main aquifer in the lower Bonita Creek area is the alluvial deposits along the creek, and to a lesser extent, the surrounding and underlying volcanic rocks. Water quality in both the upper and lower areas generally is suitable or most domestic and stock purposes. Groundwater uses include stock, agriculture and domestic, of which the City of Safford probably takes the largest portion.