2020 Map of Cleones Tank

About this map

Cleones Tank serves as a primary water source in this arid stretch of Otero County, where the landscape is defined by its network of essential stock tanks and unpaved access routes. This recent inventory by the U.S. Geological Survey details the vital infrastructure of the high desert ranching economy, showing how water management dictates the utility of the land. Key landmarks include the widely dispersed North Tank, Earl Tank, and Horse Tank, which are linked by a grid of county roads such as Co Rd E001 and Co Rd F052. The map illustrates the topographic transition between flat basins and rising elevations, with the numbered Number 11 Tank situated along the eastern slopes. For those studying New Mexico land use, these labels provide precise locations for water improvements and survey boundaries that have supported regional livestock operations for generations.