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1953 Map of Cochiti Dam

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Cochiti Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Bandelier National Monument dominates the northern reaches of this landscape, where the high mesa is carved by a succession of deep drainages including Capulin Canyon, Hondo Canyon, and Alamo Canyon. The map reveals a high density of ancestral sites, specifically marking numerous Pueblo Ruins and the notable San Miguel Ruin west of the Rio Grande. This era of mapping precedes the large-scale inundation of the river valley, showing the original course of the water and the early positioning of Cochiti Dam.

South of the monument, the Pueblo de Cochiti Grant and the Cañada de Cochiti Grant define the land tenure. Historical mining activity is centered around the settlement of Bland in the southwest, while more remote landmarks like Painted Cave suggest the deep cultural history of the area. The eastern portion of the sheet is defined by the Caja del Rio Grant and the volcanic slopes of the Montoso Plateau, providing a clear view of the complex intersection between federal forest land and traditional land grants.