1978 Map of Leasburg

About this map

Fort Selden State Monument and the ruins of the 19th-century frontier outpost Fort Selden anchor this survey of the Mesilla Valley. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition between the irrigated bottomlands of the Rio Grande and the high desert peaks of the Robledo Mountains, including Lookout Peak and Robledo Mountain. The river's flow is managed by the Leasburg Dam, which feeds the Selden Drain and American Bend Lateral to support local agriculture. North of the dam, Leasburg Dam State Park and the settlement of Radium Springs offer a glimpse into the region's recreational and residential development during the 1970s. Arid drainages like Foster Canyon and Apache Canyon carve through the western heights, illustrating the complex hydrology of the Chihuahuan Desert margin.