1967 Map of Mesa

About this map

Isolated ranching operations and water management systems dominate this High Plains landscape along the boundary between De Baca and Chaves counties. The geography is defined by the complex drainage of Middle Fork Fivemile Draw and West Fork Fivemile Draw, where the survival of livestock in this arid environment is evident through a dense network of man-made catchments including Brahman Calf Tank, Shortys Tank, and Bomb Target Tank. The presence of the C H Lewis Ranch and J M Lewis Ranch indicates the long-standing family ranching heritage of the region during the late 1960s. Terrain features like Poquita Mesa and the deep cuts of Fifteenmile Arroyo provide natural landmarks for a territory otherwise characterized by its openness and reliance on scattered resources like Buck Springs.