Loading map...

2023 Map of Carpenter Mesa NW

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Carpenter Mesa NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Carpenter Mesa defines the southern reach of this San Miguel County landscape, where the high ground transitions into a complex network of drainages and canyons. The terrain is marked by a legacy of water management essential for ranching in the high desert, evidenced by numerous named catchment features like Saint Patrick Tank, Blanco Tank, and Gacho Tank. These improvements are strategically positioned near natural waterways such as Watrous Creek and Saint Patrick Creek.

Cow Pass Canyon and Road Canyon provide natural corridors through the geography, while the presence of Rattlesnake Creek and Cow Pass Creek indicates a traditional dependence on seasonal water flow. This 2023 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey documents the modern configuration of these historic range lands, showing how contemporary infrastructure and named tanks continue to support the local agricultural economy and livestock operations in this corner of New Mexico.