2017 Map of Javelina Basin

About this map

Javelina Basin and the surrounding desert rangelands of Lea County are defined by an arid topography where water management and ranching operations dictate the human footprint. The landscape is marked by essential livestock watering points such as Kammerer Tanks, Croft Tank, and Natural Tank, which are critical nodes in this dry environment. Drainages like Antelope Draw and the distinctively named Fight in Hollow Draw reveal the natural flow of the terrain toward the basin floor. A sparse network of ranching roads, including Beckham Ranch Rd and Frying Pan Rd, connects these isolated water sources and homesteads. This 2017 survey illustrates the enduring reliance on traditional water-catchment infrastructure in modern New Mexico ranching, where the survival of the local economy remains tied to these specific, named geographic depressions and man-made tanks.