2010 Map of Playas Lake South

About this map

Playas Lake dominates this arid landscape in the Playas Valley, stretching as a significant ephemeral feature through the high desert of Grant County. The map documents a landscape defined by ranching operations and water scarcity, centered around the Whitmire Ranch and the nearby Whitmire Spring. To the west, the Hachita Cattle Company indicates the large-scale livestock interests that have long shaped this region. The terrain rises sharply to the east into the Little Hatchett Mountains, where drainage patterns like Bull Canyon feed into the basin. Seasonal watercourses such as Rough Creek highlight the drainage network that supports the cattle industry in this corner of New Mexico. Accessible via Baker Ranch Rd, the area remains a study in rural land management and the geographic isolation of the Southwest's basin and range province.