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1943 Map of Parker Lake

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Parker Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Hal Ranch and the Globe Spring Ranch anchor this landscape during the early 1940s, situated where the high peaks of the Organ Mountains meet the sweeping floor of the Tularosa Valley. This survey, conducted shortly before the mid-century expansion of regional military testing grounds, reveals an environment defined by water scarcity and cattle ranching. A dense network of man-made catchments like Parker Lake, Old Bennett Tank, and Haystack Tanks dots the terrain, essential for livestock survival in this arid basin.

Along the western edge, the mountains rise sharply, marked by several prospects and named canyons such as Ash Canyon and Johnson Spring Canyon. These features, alongside Texas Canyon Spr and Alamo Spr, illustrate the reliance on isolated water sources at the desert's edge. The boundary between Doña Ana and Otero counties bisects the valley, highlighting the administrative division of this vast open range.