1953 Map of Arroyo Del Agua

About this map

The Rio Puerco river system carves through the high mesas of Rio Arriba County, anchoring the small settlement of Arroyo del Agua. This 1950s survey, updated with late-1970s aerial data, reveals a landscape defined by traditional land use and livestock movement across the Santa Fe National Forest. Educational and spiritual life centers on the Santa Teresa Church and the Mesa Poleo School, while the western terrain is marked by more isolated outposts like the Mesa Pinabetal School. The map's many drainage features, such as Agua Sarca Creek and Arroyo Salitral, illustrate the complex hydrology necessary for life on these plateaus. Dozens of family-named landmarks like Canada Gurule and Cordovas Spring reflect generations of local ranching history and land tenure.