1981 Map of Cooper Canyon

About this map

Chupadera Mesa dominates the landscape of this Socorro County region, where the high desert terrain is defined by a network of drainage systems like Yellow Dog Canyon and Cooper Canyon. During the early 1980s, this area supported livestock and resource extraction, evidenced by the numerous water improvements and the presence of the Naulda Mine along Iron Mountain Ridge. The distribution of features such as School Section Windmill and School Section Tank suggests the utilization of public land for ranching, while isolated landmarks like Malina Windmill and New Forest Windmill provide specific points of reference for those tracing historical land use. To the south, Hoot Owl Canyon and Lobo Canyon cut through the rugged slopes, illustrating the complex topography that governed movement through this arid territory.