1972 Map of Elephant Butte

About this map

Ives Mesa dominates the southern landscape of this high-desert region, situated entirely within the Navajo Indian Reservation. This 1972 field-checked survey reveals a territory defined by complex drainage systems and significant geological formations. The eponymous Elephant Butte rises in the northeast corner, serving as a primary landmark for the surrounding plateau. Water management and resource transport are the primary human markers on the land, evidenced by a Well located along Bird Springs Wash and a prominent Pipeline that traverses the northern sections. The map traces the winding paths of Coyote Wash and Johns Draw, illustrating how seasonal water flow has carved the mesas and canyons over time. This document provides a clear look at the spatial relationship between traditional lands and modern utility infrastructure in this portion of the Arizona-Navajo county borderlands during the early 1970s.