2013 Map of Belen SW

About this map

The Rio Puerco carves a prominent north-south path through the eastern portion of this high desert landscape, defining the local hydrology and drainage patterns of the region. This 2013 topographic survey captures the intricate network of seasonal watercourses and arroyos that feed into the river valley, including the winding Arroyo Comanche and Arroyo Alamito. The terrain transitions from the elevated, level expanses of Montano Flats into a series of deeply etched drainage features such as Pedro Draw, Coyote Draw, and Mariano Draw. Straddling the political boundary between Valencia Co and Socorro Co, the map reveals a sparsely developed environment dominated by natural landforms and the Public Land Survey System grids. The spatial relationship between these natural features provides insight into the arid geography south of Belen, where the presence of water—even ephemeral—has long dictated the boundaries and movement through the New Mexico interior.