1981 Map of Goldenburg Draw

About this map

The Jornada Experimental Range (USDA) dominates the central landscape of this Doña Ana County survey, where agricultural research meets high-tech military testing. This arid basin is defined by complex water management systems essential for desert survival and operations, featuring widely dispersed points like Wooten Well and Turney Well, alongside numerous catchment basins such as Red Bottom Tank and Restoration Tank. The terrain transitions from the open expanses of Antelope Flat toward the sophisticated infrastructure of the White Sands Test Facility (NASA). Significant natural drainage patterns are traced through Goldenburg Draw and Cottonwood Draw, highlighting the intersection of natural desert topography and the administrative boundaries of the White Sands Missile Range. This era illustrates a unique period when large-scale federal scientific inquiry and aerospace testing redefined the utility of the New Mexico desert.