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2010 Map of Hatch

Name: 2010 Topographic Map of Hatch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2010
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2010

About this map

The Rincon Valley serves as the agricultural heart of this region, where the Rio Grande is managed by an intricate network of irrigation and flood control structures. The village of Hatch anchors the area, supported by the smaller settlements of Salem, Placitas, and Rodey. Water management is the defining characteristic of this landscape, evidenced by numerous named protective works such as the Velarde Dams, Salem Dam, and Wardy Hedgecock Dam. These structures protect the low-lying valley floor from the flash floods of the surrounding desert arroyos, including Broadhurst Arroyo and Placitas Arroyo.

Transportation and infrastructure reflect the valley's rural character, centered around the Hatch Municipal Airport and the Hatch Post Office. Local history is preserved at the Hatch Cemetery and Rodey Cemetery, while the Hatch Canal, Hatch Drain, and Angostura Lateral illustrate the complex water engineering required to sustain life in the Chihuahuan Desert. The layout of Hatch reveals a traditional street grid bounded by the River Levee, illustrating the community's historical relationship with the shifting river.