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1961 Map of Clark Spring Canyon

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Clark Spring Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Clark Spring Canyon and the surrounding drainage basins of Sierra County define this early 1960s landscape, where water management is the primary marker of human activity. The map documents an intricate network of livestock-related infrastructure, including the Apedaca Windmill, Copper Windmill, and essential water catchments like Cedar Tank and Tucup Tank. These features, along with numerous named wells such as Lacy Well and Wiggs Well, illustrate the mid-century ranching economy reliant on subterranean water sources and seasonal runoff.

Erosion patterns are clearly visible through the deep incisions of Trujillo Canyon and Sibley Canyon, while the perennial or intermittent flows of Tierra Blanca Creek and Berrenda Creek carve through the high desert. A solitary Jeep Trail provides the only significant navigable route across this terrain, connecting remote points like Shorthorn Spring and Clark Spring to the wider region. This survey captures a specific era of Western land use, focusing on the isolated outposts of New Mexico's grazing lands.