1961 Map of Mesita Del Gavilan

About this map

Rancho Rincon Marquez and the namesake Mesita del Gavilan define this high-desert landscape in McKinley County. The map details a cattle-ranching and water-management system crucial for the arid New Mexico environment, characterized by numerous named tanks and reservoirs like Martinez Tank, Echo Tank, and Amos Pit Reservoir. Water flow is dictated by the deep seasonal channels of Arroyo Marquez and Arroyo Chico, which cut through the mesa country. Evidence of earlier habitation or structures is noted at several Ruins locations, while a modern Pipeline traverses the northern reaches. The presence of features such as Alfredo Padilla and Stockade Tank suggests a landscape shaped by local land grants and the demands of livestock grazing in the mid-20th century.