2019 Map of Big Heiser Tank

About this map

Water management in the arid landscape of Hudspeth County is the primary focus of this survey, which details a vast network of storage tanks and reservoirs essential for ranching and survival in West Texas. These named features, such as Big Heiser Tank and its smaller counterpart Little Heiser Tank, serve as vital landmarks and infrastructure in a region defined by its wide elevation changes. The naming conventions used for these water sources reflect the practical and evocative history of the area, ranging from wildlife references like Prairie Dog Tank to descriptive markers such as Wagon Wheel Tank and the ominous Dead Horse Tank. By tracing the placements of Johnson Tank and North Fourmile Tank, researchers can understand the logistical spacing of human and livestock resources across this high-desert terrain during the late 2010s.