1978 Map of Martha Creek

About this map

Indian Basin dominates the northern half of this landscape, where the energy industry of the late 1970s is evidenced by a dense network of gas wells and a central Gas Plant. This high desert terrain in Eddy County is defined by its drainage systems, including the namesake Martha Creek, Bone Arroyo, and the winding Rocky Arroyo. To the east, the topography rises into the Seven Rivers Hills, while the southern portion of the quadrangle is marked by the prominent Azotea Mesa. Local landmarks such as The Tepee and Cone Butte provide navigational points among the numerous draws and canyons like Old Ranch Canyon and Jones Canyon. The map reveals a working landscape of ranching and resource extraction, with features like Weld Tank and a web of unimproved roads connecting disparate drilling sites across the limestone-scarred ridges and deep alluvial washes.