Loading map...

1953 Map of Cochiti Dam

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Cochiti Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Ancient settlements and rugged land grants define this landscape along the Rio Grande as it flows through Sandoval County. The northern reaches are dominated by Bandelier National Monument, where numerous Pueblo Ruins are documented among the mesas and canyons, including the prominent Painted Cave in Capulin Canyon. These archaeological sites stand in contrast to the mid-century infrastructure developing further south, marked by the site of Cochiti Dam and the Cochiti East Side Main Canal.

The territory is divided by historic colonial boundaries including the La Majada Grant, Cañada de Cochiti Grant, and the Pueblo de Cochiti Grant. Deep within the western canyons, the mining settlement of Bland is visible, reached by primitive trails. Terrain features like Eagle Point and the Caja del Rio Plateau overlook a complex network of drainages such as Sanchez Canyon and Alamo Canyon, reflecting the area's transition from indigenous ancestral lands to a modern managed watershed.