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1995 Map of Carracas Canyon

Name: 1995 Topographic Map of Carracas Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1998
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1998

About this map

The rugged terrain of the Carson National Forest and the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation converges in this high-desert landscape along the Colorado and New Mexico border. The settlement of Carracas sits at the northwestern edge, accompanied by a small Cem, while Juanita marks the northeastern corner near the Archuleta and Rio Arriba county line. The map reveals a history of land use through family-named locations such as Espinosa Ranch, Bixler Ranch, and Trujillo.

Water management and resource extraction are central to the area's development, evidenced by features like Grosbeck Tank, Bancos Pits, and a prominent Pipeline crossing the Mesa. The complex drainage system of Carracas Canyon and Salada Canyon defines the topography, supported by numerous named water sources including Frijoles Spring and Santiago Pond. The presence of several Drill Holes and Gas Wells suggests an economy increasingly tied to subsurface energy production during the late twentieth century.