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1988 Map of Dark Canyon

Name: 1988 Topographic Map of Dark Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

Dagger Lake and a network of remote watering points define this arid corner of Chaves County during the late 1980s. The landscape is marked by its reliance on subterranean water sources, evidenced by numerous named wells such as Solo Well, Barbara Well, and the South Turknett Well. These features, along with several landmarks like the Challenge Windmill and East Header Windmill, reveal the infrastructure necessary for sustaining life and livestock in the high desert.

The rugged drainage systems of Dark Canyon and Crooked Creek Canyon dominate the topography, carving deep paths through the terrain. These natural corridors are supplemented by human markers like the Pipeline Windmill, reflecting a period of established ranching and water management. This provisional survey captures the intersection of natural canyons like Monument Canyon and Cedar Canyon with the functional landmarks of the New Mexico backcountry.