2023 Map of Arch NW

About this map

The Portales Valley defines the southern portion of this high plains landscape, a region characterized by its broad, flat depressions and a network of section-line roads that underscore the deep-seated agricultural heritage of Roosevelt County. The systematic layout of the Public Land Survey System is visible through the grid of thoroughfares like S Roosevelt Road 4 and S Roosevelt Road 6, which have long served as the lifelines for local homesteads and ranching operations. Along the northeastern edge, Blackwater Rd cuts a diagonal path across the landscape, following a different logic than the rigid cardinal grid. This 2023 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey captures the modern state of these rural corridors, such as S Roosevelt Road 8 and S Roosevelt Road J, providing a clear look at the enduring geometry of New Mexico's eastern plains.