1985 Map of Mesas Mojinas

About this map

Mesas Mojinas and the surrounding high desert of Valencia County are defined by a network of seasonal watercourses and upland mesas that dictated the movement of cattle and ranching operations in the late 20th century. The drainage patterns of Arroyo Salado, Arroyo Comanche, and Arroyo Monte carve through the landscape, flanked by prominent elevations such as Mesa Carrizo and Mesa Aparejo. This mid-1980s provisional survey shows a terrain developed for livestock management, indicated by numerous family-named and functional water catchments like Gurule Tank, Alderete Tank, Esperanza Tank, and Shipping Tank. Near the base of the mesas, several Quarries suggest small-scale resource extraction alongside the primary ranching economy. The map provides a clear look at the rural infrastructure of the period, from the isolated House Tank to the more remote Sabina Tank in the southern reaches of the quadrangle.