2010 Map of Arroyo Salado East

About this map

Mecom Ranch and other large-scale ranching interests define the landscape of Zapata County in the early 21st century. This region of South Texas is characterized by a series of engineered water management features, most notably a sequence of dams including Jesse McNeel Lake Number 2 Dam, Jesse McNeel Lake Number 3 Dam, and Jesse McNeel Lake Number 4 Dam. These reservoirs indicate the vital importance of water storage for cattle operations in an arid climate. The terrain is crossed by the drainage of Cavasara Creek and served by rural infrastructure such as Ranch Rd 3169. The map provides a detailed record of land use on the Mecom Ranch, showing how the land has been partitioned and modified to support ranching through the construction of numerous small stock tanks and lakes.