2013 Map of Mesa Palo Amarillo

About this map

Mesa Palo Amarillo defines this high-desert landscape in Guadalupe County, where water management is the primary marker of human activity. This 2013 survey details an extensive network of tanks and catchments, such as Bills Tank, Laguna Cuates, and the oddly named Streetcar Tank, all vital for livestock in a region where Potrillo Cr and other drainages are often dry. The terrain is characterized by dramatic escarpments like La Mesa Del Medio and deep incisions such as Cañon Blanco and Cañon de Rancho Alegre. Settlement is sparse and focused on ranching infrastructure, notably the Marquez Ranch and the Secundino Windmill. The presence of CO Road 4 and Palo Amarillo Rd provides the few arteries through this territory, which remains largely shaped by the requirements of open-range grazing and the natural topography of the mesas.