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1982 Map of Foster Lake

Name: 1982 Topographic Map of Foster Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

White Sands National Monument dominates the northern landscape of this 1982 survey, defined by the stark White Sands and areas of shifting sand. This high desert environment in Otero County is largely occupied by the White Sands Missile Range, illustrating the intersection of federal conservation and military testing grounds during the late twentieth century.

Evidence of local ranching and exploration is sparse but significant, with White Sands Ranch (Salt) and family-named landmarks like Pelman Well and Roberts Well providing essential water access points in the arid terrain. The map also records unique geological and archaeological markers, from the Twin Buttes in the east to the Bell Site and a lone Drill Hole near the center. Foster Lake serves as a primary catchment feature, anchoring a region where a buried pipeline and isolated gravel pits suggest a light but present industrial footprint.