2018 Map of Bishop Lake

About this map

Bishop Lake and a series of high-altitude ephemeral basins define this high-desert landscape in Coconino County. The map captures a topography shaped by seasonal water management, as evidenced by several named "tanks" or livestock reservoirs. These features, such as Abshires Tank, Sellers Tank, and Schafers Tank, likely represent family names tied to the historical ranching operations that have long dominated this portion of northern Arizona. The presence of Tule Lake and Montezuma Lake indicates areas where natural depressions collect runoff, creating distinct ecological points in the arid terrain. The arrangement of these water sources across the public land survey grid highlights the intersection of natural hydrology and the systematic division of western lands during the 21st century.