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2010 Map of Mound Springs

Name: 2010 Topographic Map of Mound Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2010
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2010

About this map

The White Sands Missile Range dominates this portion of Otero County, defining a landscape dedicated to military testing and restricted access. The geography is characterized by ephemeral water sources and desert drainage systems, notably Salt Creek which meanders through the central and western sections. Scattered throughout this arid terrain are vital watering points such as Lone Cedar Tank and Upper Dog Town Tank, which suggest the historic pastoral use of the land before its military designation.

Strategic movement through the area is facilitated by a network of numbered military corridors, including WSMR P Route 8 and WSMR P Route 9. Named landmarks like Red Hill and the namesake Mound Springs provide rare topographic and hydrological points of interest in this sparsely populated basin. The map illustrates the specialized infrastructure of the range, balancing the natural desert hydrology with the logistical requirements of twentieth-century defense operations.