1950 Map of Comanche Spring

About this map

Comanche Spring and the surrounding high desert of Chaves County are documented here through surveys spanning the late 1940s to the mid-1970s. The landscape is defined by the ephemeral Comanche Draw and the prominent Comanche Hill, showing a territory where water management is central to survival. Numerous windmills dot the sections, indicating the vital reliance on groundwater for ranching operations. The western edge of the quadrangle is occupied by the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, a critical sanctuary established in the Pecos River valley. Modern industrial footprints are visible through a diagonal Pipe Line and the path of Route 380, while the presence of geodetic markers like Gopher BM illustrates the precise topographic work required to map this arid basin.