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1981 Map of Malone Draw

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Malone Draw
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Military installations and ephemeral watercourses define this arid landscape in the Tularosa Basin during the early 1980s. The northwest corner is occupied by the White Sands Missile Range, while the Holloman Air Force Base dominates the central and southern sections, including a designated firing range and multiple surveillance structures like a radio tower and observation tower.

Outside of the military boundaries, the terrain is etched by a complex network of drainage systems, such as Malone Draw, Hay Draw, and Ritas Draw. Water management for ranching or military utility is evident through family-named groundwater sources, including Mc Natt Well, Pruess Well, and the Sansen Well. To the north, La Luz Creek and Laborcita Arroyo mark the transition toward higher ground, while the Lost River appears in the western desert flats. These features reflect the dual identity of the region as both a vital defense testing ground and a traditional New Mexico ranching environment.