1982 Map of Lake Lucero

About this map

Lake Lucero dominates this Tularosa Basin landscape, sitting within a topographic depression where mineral-rich waters accumulate and evaporate. In the early 1980s, this area served as a critical intersection of federal land management, split between the White Sands National Monument and the White Sands Missile Range. The boundary lines reveal a complex geography where preservation at the San Andres National Wildlife Refuge meets the strategic requirements of the missile range. On the western edge, the terrain rises sharply into the mountains, marked by San Andres Canyon and Ash Canyon. Evidence of human activity and resource extraction is visible through labels for the Apache Site, a Drill Hole, and infrastructure like Mar Water Well No 1 and Mar Water Well No 2, providing a look at how this arid environment was utilized for both military and local needs amidst the constant movement of Shifting Sand.