1979 Map of Fresno Wash

About this map

Fresno Wash and Altar Wash converge in this arid corridor of Pima County, shaping a landscape defined by seasonal watercourses and remote ranching outposts. Recorded through 1970s aerial photography, the map reveals a desert economy centered on groundwater management, evidenced by the proliferation of named catchment systems like Pozo Hondo Tank, Lilly Tank, and Pajonal Tank. Small-scale habitation is limited to established holdings such as Espinosa Ranch and Pozo Nuevo Ranch, while a lone Landing Strip and the Batamote Road provide the primary links across the basin. The presence of a Gaging Station and a Gravel Pit indicates the active monitoring of desert hydrology and local resource extraction during this era. Dominating the eastern horizon, the prominence of Cerro Prieto serves as a landmark above the complex network of distributaries including San Juan Wash and Bolas Blancas Wash.