1962 Map of Bitter Lake

About this map

The Pecos River and Bitter Lake dominate this high-desert landscape northeast of Roswell, where the hydrology of the Pecos Valley is meticulously documented. The map details the complex water management systems of the early 1960s, including the Hagerman Canal, Garrod Dam, and a Salt Water Conversion Plant near the Rio Hondo. This era shows the convergence of traditional agriculture and mid-century industry, with the South Bitter Lake Oil Field operating alongside the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Transportation infrastructure is anchored by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line running through the siding at Poe. On the outskirts of Roswell, civic life is represented by the Roswell Country Club, St Marys Cem, and several local schools, while the surrounding terrain rises toward Comanche Hill to the east.