1949 Map of Hondo Reservoir

About this map

Rio Hondo defines the hydraulic character of this Chaves County landscape, where an intricate network of levees and canals once attempted to harness the semi-arid terrain. The central focus is the Hondo Reservoir, noted as abandoned by the time of the late-1940s survey, alongside the similarly defunct Hondo Irrigation Project. These features, along with the Hondo Reservoir Diversion Canal and Hondo (Old Channel), suggest a period of significant water engineering that preceded the mid-century mapping. Scattered across the draws and arroyos are numerous traces of human history and settlement. Researchers will find family-named landmarks such as Woods Ranch, Bloom Ranch, and Sherman Place, alongside notable archaeological markers like the Missouri Plaza Indian Ruins and other Indian Ruins. The map also details early utility features like the Red House Well and Bloom Well, providing a look at the infrastructure required for ranching in this part of New Mexico.