1953 Map of Arroyo Del Agua

About this map

Arroyo del Agua sits at the intersection of high mesa country and narrow drainage valleys, anchored by the Santa Teresa Church and local education centers like the Mesa Poleo School. This mid-century survey reveals a landscape of traditional land use within the Santa Fe National Forest, where water sources like Cordovas Spring and Salitral Spring were essential to the life of the high plains. The terrain is defined by dramatic flat-topped formations such as Mesa Alta and Mesa Montosa, dissected by the winding course of the Rio Puerco. A network of unpaved routes and a Jeep Trail trace the ancient geography of the Ojo del Espiritu Santo Grant, providing a view of Rio Arriba County before significant modern development altered these isolated ranching and timber corridors.