2017 Map of Bancos Mesa NW

About this map

Navajo Reservoir dominates this landscape, where its waters fill the deep-cut canyons of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. This 2017 study illustrates the complex hydrology of the region, where the San Juan River meets a network of arroyos and draws, including Laguna Seca Draw and Cañon Bancos. The map provides a look at the border between San Juan and Rio Arriba Counties, characterized by high mesa country. Landmarks such as Carracas Mesa and Quintana Mesa rise above the drainage basins, while historical traces like the Young Place and the Miller Ditch speak to the area's agricultural and settlement history. The terrain is deeply incised by drainages like Cabresto Canyon and Eul Canyon, showing the intersection of water management and high-desert geography.