2020 Map of Hernandez Lake

About this map

Hernandez Lake and the expansive Salt Lake define this high plains basin in eastern New Mexico. This 2020 survey documents a landscape dominated by livestock water infrastructure and a complex network of ephemeral drainage systems known locally as draws. The boundary between De Baca Co and Chaves Co cuts across the northern portion of the sheet, where Sand Draw meets the salt flats. Modern roads like CO Rd 4 and Sea Rd provide access to remote ranching operations identified by numerous livestock tanks, including Windy Smith Tank, McDowell Tank, and Grandpa Tank. These features, along with Hernandez Draw and Salt Draw, trace the natural hydrology of the Pecos River valley hinterlands, offering a detailed record of land use and water management in a semi-arid ranching environment.