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1963 Map of Gonzales Mesa

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Gonzales Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation lands dominate the eastern portion of this Rio Arriba County landscape, where the plateau surface is deeply dissected by drainage systems like Tapicito Creek. The map documents a rugged high-desert environment defined by massive formations such as Gonzales Mesa and Ensenada Mesa, separated by the broad winding path of Cañon Largo.

Industrial development is evident throughout the San Juan Basin Gas Field, marked by numerous Gas Wells and a significant Pipeline network that traverses the mesas. Remote ranching outposts like Kaime Ranch and Williams Ranch represent the sparse human footprint in this terrain. Water sources, vital for both cattle and wildlife, are meticulously noted, including Albert Lake and several isolated springs such as Dogie Spring and Forbes Spring, which often provided the only reliable moisture in the arid canyons.