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1966 Map of Natural Dam Lake

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Natural Dam Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The Martin Co Howard Co line divides this West Texas landscape, dominated by a series of ephemeral salt basins and drainages. The most prominent hydrological feature is Natural Dam Lake (Salt), a large playa catchment fed by Sulphur Springs Draw and Buzzard Draw. The topography is characterized by subtle elevation changes across these drainage basins, with Indian Point standing out as a rare named terrain marker. The presence of numerous Oil Wells, Gravel Pits, and a branching network of Pipelines underscores the industrial reliance on the region's mineral and petroleum resources during the mid-1960s.

Transportation and utility infrastructure follow the natural contours of the land, most notably the Texas and Pacific railroad line that cuts diagonally across the southern half of the quadrangle. This rail corridor serves the small settlement of Morita, providing a vital link through the semi-arid plains. Further south, Red Lake (Salt) and Boggy Lake (Salt) illustrate the intermittent nature of water in this environment, where catchments like Red Tank and Calf Tank were essential for ranching operations.