Loading map...

2017 Map of Muniz Canyon

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Muniz Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Mesa Rica dominates the northern landscape of this region, serving as a high-elevation plateau that divides several drainage systems. Below its slopes, a network of canyons including Muniz Canyon, Vigil Canyon, and Ortega Canyon cut through the terrain, illustrating the complex erosion patterns common in the high plains of Eastern New Mexico. The boundary between San Miguel and Quay counties bisects the area diagonally, a line marked by the transition from upland mesas to the lower basins fed by ephemeral waterways.

Water management is central to the land's utility, evidenced by a series of named catchments such as Muniz Tank, Feed Pasture Tank, and Middle Tank. These man-made features support ranching operations where natural streams like Pajarito Creek and Alamosa Creek provide only seasonal flow. The presence of Arroyo de las Palomas in the southeastern corner further emphasizes the dry-wash topography that characterizes this part of the Llano Estacado's edge.