1966 Map of Natural Corral

About this map

The San Carlos Indian Reservation landscape is defined by its arid mesa systems and essential water infrastructure as documented in this mid-1960s survey. Significant drainage networks like Sevenmile Wash and Natural Corral Creek carve through the elevated plains of Natural Corral Mesa and Sontag Mesa. The reliance on local groundwater is evident through a series of named water sources such as Holdup Tank, Smith Well, and Natural Tank, which supported land use before reaching the southern confluence of the San Carlos River and the Blue River. Near the Gila and Graham county boundary, the San Carlos Landing Strip and a Tufa Stone Quarry indicate small-scale industrial and transport developments within the reservation. These features, along with numerous jeep trails, illustrate a period of transition where traditional terrain began meeting modern resource extraction and infrastructure.