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1963 Map of Elk-Silver

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Elk-Silver
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation and Lincoln National Forest converge in this high-elevation terrain, where deep drainages like Elk Canyon and Turkey Canyon define the landscape. Water is the primary resource of note on this 1960s survey, marked by numerous named tanks, wells, and springs essential for survival in the arid high country. The small settlement of Elk-Silver serves as a lonely outpost along the canyon floor, situated near the Solon Dam.

Tracing the path of Silver Creek and Silver Springs, the map reveals a pattern of seasonal water management, including the Nahtzillee Dam and several isolated tanks like Mogoosh Tank and Charley Tank. The presence of Camp Geronimo and a Gravel Pit indicates localized activity within the canyons. Numerous family-named canyons, such as Hansen Canyon and Clement Canyon, provide valuable clues for genealogists and local historians tracking early land use in Otero County.