2017 Map of Fifteenmile Lake

About this map

Fifteenmile Lake and the arid expanse of the Tularosa Basin characterize this 2017 survey of southern New Mexico. The landscape is dominated by the complex administrative and geographic intersections of Sierra, Doña Ana, and Otero counties. This area is defined by its restricted access and military history, as evidenced by the network of White Sands Missile Range routes including Wsmr P RT 6 and Wsmr S RT 297 that crisscross the desert floor. Water is a scarce and vital feature here, appearing in the form of ephemeral basins like Big Salt Lake and the intermittent flow of Three Rivers. The presence of these salt lakes and seasonal watercourses indicates a highly specialized ecosystem where geology and geography dictate the patterns of human and natural movement within a secured government reservation.