1954 Map of Bancos Mesa NW

About this map

San Juan River Reservoir dominates this rugged corner of the New Mexico and Colorado border, illustrating the transition of the San Juan River through the canyonlands of Rio Arriba County. Surveyed in the mid-1950s and updated in the early 1980s, the map documents the hydraulic engineering and energy extraction that reshaped this high-desert landscape. Evidence of early irrigation is found at the Mentzel Ditch near the northern boundary, while several Gas Wells indicate the growing industrial footprint in the area. High plateaus such as Carracas Mesa and Quintana Mesa overlook a complex drainage system that includes Cañon Bancos and Cabresto Canyon. This survey captures the intersection of traditional land use and modern resource management before further development altered the regional character.