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1963 Map of Deadman Lake

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Deadman Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The eastern boundary of the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation bisects this high-elevation landscape, where cattle ranching and water management define the territory. Small settlements like Whitetail and ranching outposts such as Joyce Ranch and Maverick represent the human footprint in a terrain carved by numerous drainages, including Deadman Canyon and Casey Canyon. The region's reliance on groundwater is evident through a network of infrastructure such as the Whitetail Windmill, Lake Windmill, and Rosendo Windmill, alongside earthen stock tanks like Spur Tank and Washpan Tank.

Natural and man-made water features are central to the map's character, with names reflecting both local fauna and commercial enterprise. Significant basins include Deadman Lake, Circle Diamond Lake, and the pair of Big Flying H Lake and Little Flying H Lake. The map serves as a detailed record of land use in the early 1960s, documenting the intricate fence lines and remote tracks that connected these high-desert water sources across the Otero and Lincoln county lines.