Loading map...

1981 Map of Polecat Tank

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Polecat Tank
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Rainwater Ranch stands as a primary point of human settlement in this high-desert landscape of Sierra County, situated near the western edge of the quadrangle. The terrain is defined by its arid-land management, evidenced by the strategic placement of livestock watering holes such as Polecat Tank, Sand Tank, and East Pasture Tank. These water features are essential landmarks across the drainage networks of Jornada Draw and McClennon Draw, which channel seasonal runoff through the basin.

Evidence of resource exploration and land survey is visible through scattered Drill Holes and a Gravel Pit, while the eastern portion of the map is bisected by the New Mexico Principal Meridian. This boundary serves as the foundational surveying line for the region. The map also traces various routes identified simply as Jeep Trails, illustrating the functional, low-impact transportation network used to navigate the open range during the early 1980s.