1963 Map of Coyote Draw

About this map

Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge anchors the southern portion of this Chaves County landscape, where the Chihuahuan Desert meets critical wetland basins. The topography is defined by ephemeral drainage systems like Coyote Draw and Milner Draw, which feed into a complex of seasonal water bodies including Cocklebur Lakes, Milner Lake, and Yellow Lake. These water sources were vital for early ranching operations, as evidenced by the dispersed network of improvements such as Savage Well, Dixon Well, and the Smith Windmill. Ranching history is further highlighted by the Red Bluff Ranch and Garcia Flat to the south. This 1963 survey, photorevised in 1982, captures the arid terrain's transition from open range to a managed wildlife corridor, with industrial infrastructure represented by the prominent Pipeline corridors cutting across the draws.