1981 Map of Bitter Creek

About this map

The White Sands Missile Range occupies the central portion of this landscape, reflecting the heavy military footprint in this region of New Mexico during the late twentieth century. Located in Otero County, the terrain is characterized by intermittent water features and isolated outposts. The ephemeral waters of Bitter Creek and Three Rivers cross the dry flats, leading toward the Bitter Spring in the southern section of the map. Traces of human activity are sparse, marked by the Rita Site and Cowan Site, alongside a network of Jeep Trails and essential water points like Rock Tank and a lone Well. This survey, field checked in the mid-1970s, documents the intersection of vast federal defense lands with the essential water infrastructure required for survival in the high desert.