1973 Map of Chico Draw East

About this map

Chico Draw defines the drainage patterns of this high-desert landscape in Culberson County, where the scarcity of water dictated the placement of every landmark. The area is characterized by an extensive network of man-made water catchments, essential for ranching operations in this arid portion of the Trans-Pecos. These cattle tanks, such as Nob Hill Tank and Minnie Tank, often serve as the only named features for miles, marking the locations of critical infrastructure in a territory defined by arroyo systems like Wild Horse Draw. The distribution of features like Wallace Tank and Patterson Tank reflects a landscape managed for livestock, where the topography of draws and basins was utilized to capture seasonal runoff. This 1973 field survey provides a clear view of the rural ranching footprint before later modernization altered these remote desert outposts.