1981 Map of Cistern Draw

About this map

Torgac Cave and the intermittent waters of North Lake define this high-desert landscape in Lincoln County. The map reveals an environment where survival depended on localized water sources, evidenced by named sites like Partnership Well and Hackberry Well. This is a terrain of deep drainage systems, dominated by the winding paths of Cistern Draw and the extensive Arroyo del Macho, which cut through the dry plateau. The presence of a prominent Pipeline cutting across the southwestern quadrant signifies the modern utility infrastructure introduced to this remote New Mexico territory by the early 1980s. Local history is etched into the landscape through features like Hasperos Canyon and Hackberry Draw, showing how natural topography dictated the limited human footprint and resource management in this arid region.