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2019 Map of Norton Mesa

Name: 2019 Topographic Map of Norton Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2019
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2019

About this map

Norton Mesa and Roberts Mesa dominate the high ground in this arid reach of Hudspeth County, where the landscape is defined by the vital necessity of water management. The terrain is marked by a sophisticated network of tanks, many bearing the names of local ranching families and landmarks, such as Andy Grant Tank, East Love Tank, and White Bull Tank. These man-made features highlight the persistence of livestock ranching in the Trans-Pecos region, where every drainage is utilized to catch seasonal runoff.

Transportation through this high-desert environment relies on a sparse grid of unpaved corridors including Frederick Rd, Big Tank Rd, and Applegate Rd. The map illustrates how human activity has adapted to the topography, with tanks like North Norton Tank and South Norton Tank positioned to capture water near the mesa flanks. This 2019 survey provides a precise accounting of these rural landmarks, essential for understanding land use and navigation in a region where natural surface water is exceedingly rare.