2017 Map of Owl Tank Canyon West

About this map

Owl Tank Canyon and Castner Draw define the topography of this arid stretch of Otero County. The landscape is characterized by a network of water catchment systems essential for ranching and survival in the high desert, evidenced by the numerous named tanks distributed across the township and range lines. To the south, Foster Ranch Tanks and Childs Tank indicate localized land use and historical grazing patterns near the canyon's edge. Other critical water points include Tinney Tank in the northwest and Campbell Tank near the center of the sheet. This 2017 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey details the elevation and drainage patterns of the Chihuahuan Desert before reaching the Sacramento Mountains, preserving the locations of these vital man-made and natural water features used by generations of local ranchers.