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2019 Map of Last Chance Mesa

Name: 2019 Topographic Map of Last Chance Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2019
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2019

About this map

Last Chance Mesa dominates the high ground of the West Texas interior, marking a sharp topographic boundary in a region defined by ephemeral water sources and deep drainage cuts. The landscape is carved by a network of seasonal watercourses and prominent relief features, including the broad reaches of Hatch Canyon and the winding path of Hatch Canyon Draw. These features demonstrate the erosive power of the high desert environment, where drainage systems like Deep Canyon and Musquiz Canyon intersect the higher plateaus.

Water management is the primary sign of land use on this sheet, evidenced by a series of named tanks used for catchment. Strategic water points such as Duck Tank, Amistad Tank, and Herradura Tank are scattered across the terrain, supporting ranching operations in a territory where traditional streams like Musquiz Cr and Alpine Cr are often dry. The map also delineates the jurisdictional line between Jeff Davis and Brewster counties as it traverses the high mesa.