2010 Map of Cave Mesa

About this map

Burnt House Creek defines the drainage of this arid landscape, winding through the north and west of this 2010 survey. The terrain is characterized by high plateaus and isolated peaks, notably the prominent Cave Mesa, Pine Mesa, and Panther Mesa in the southern and eastern reaches. These landforms rise above the surrounding flats, punctuated by North Mountain and the steep walls of Burnt House Canyon. Settlement is sparse, represented primarily by a network of ranch roads and specialized water sources critical for life and livestock in this environment. Several of these small impoundments are identified across the sheet, including Rooney Tank, Hackberry Tank, Witcher Tank, and North Tank. The distribution of these features reveals a geography where water management and the natural contours of the mesas dictate the patterns of human use and movement.