2023 Map of Plumasano Basin

About this map

Plumasano Basin characterizes this high-altitude landscape where the border of McKinley County and Cibola County meets. The terrain is defined by a series of distinct tablelands, most notably Pie Mesa and Red Mesa, which rise above the surrounding drainage networks. Seasonal watercourses like Willow Wash and Plumasano Wash carve through the basin, eventually feeding into deeper recesses such as Yellowrock Canyon and Mullen Canyon. The map reveals a specialized transportation network dominated by Bureau of Indian Affairs routes, including Indian Svc Rte 33 and Indian Svc Rte 8, alongside local ranching tracks like Pia Mesa Rd. This 2023 survey provides a contemporary view of the land use and topographic relief in this portion of western New Mexico, documenting the intersection of tribal infrastructure and federal land management.