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2017 Map of Haystack Butte

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Haystack Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Haystack Butte and its neighbor Little Haystack rise above the high plains of Chaves County, anchoring a landscape shaped by intermittent water and ranching infrastructure. This arid terrain is defined by a network of drainage channels such as Sixmile Draw and Bosque Draw, which serve as the primary topographical features alongside several ephemeral basins. The dependency on water for livestock is evident in the numerous namesake water catchments scattered across the quadrangle, including Wesley Tank, McBride Tank, and Expensive Tank.

Transportation through this part of New Mexico follows established routes like Lovington Rd and Caprock Rd, which provide access across the township and range divisions. Rare natural water sources like Bosque Spring offer a contrast to the man-made catchments, while larger depressions such as Ramadge Lake and Salt Cedar Lake mark the lower elevations. The survey illustrates a high-desert environment where the economy is tied to the land's hydrology and grazing capacity.