1988 Map of Nelson Canyon East

About this map

Tecolote Canyon and Coyote Canyon dominate the drainage patterns of this Lincoln County landscape as it appeared in the late 1980s. The terrain is defined by a dense network of erosional features, including the aptly named Deadman Canyon and the prominent Blackwater Canyon in the north. This 1988 provisional edition, based on earlier 1950s aerial photography with updates from the 1980s, reflects a sparsely populated ranching environment where water sources were critical for land use. Isolated water points such as Sixteenmile Well and other unnamed wells provide specific landmarks for researchers tracing historic land tracts or grazing operations. The map also records several intermittent drainages like Big Draw and Coyote Draw, alongside topographic markers such as Pruit Canyon and Nelson Canyon, capturing the arid character of south-central New Mexico before further modern development.