1979 Map of Little Harpo Canyon

About this map

Cataract Canyon carves a winding path through this corner of the Coconino plateau, defining the landscape alongside the drainage of Little Harpo Canyon. The map records a sparse ranching environment in the late 1970s, where survival and movement are dictated by an extensive network of artificial water sources. From the centrally located Redlands Ranch, the terrain is marked by essential livestock improvements like Shilo Tank, Jericho Tank, and New Harpo Tank. These small reservoirs, along with various other water tanks such as W Triangle Tank and the north-bordering Red Dike Pond, reflect a carefully managed high-desert grazing economy. The presence of a broad Plateau and numerous unnamed wells suggests the continued reliance on the natural topography to capture seasonal runoff for desert agriculture and ranching operations.