1973 Map of Dry Lake

About this map

The arid ranchlands of the Culberson and Reeves County line are captured in this early 1970s topographical study. Water management is the central theme of this landscape, evidenced by the presence of an Aqueduct and the remote Juan Windmill. The terrain is defined by seasonal drainage systems such as Dutch Draw and Incline Draw, which feed toward the ephemeral Dry Lake basin. Human activity is sparse, clustered primarily at the Derrick Ranch and small extractive sites like the Gravel Pits. A notable Drill Hole in the central east suggests exploratory activity in this corner of the Trans-Pecos, where the elevation changes and alluvial fans of Cottonwood Creek dictate the layout of fences and unimproved roads.