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2017 Map of Pounds Mesa

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Pounds Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Santa Fe National Forest encompasses the southern reaches of this landscape in Rio Arriba County, where high plateaus and deep drainage channels define the terrain. The central prominence of Pounds Mesa rises between the winding course of Arroyo del Puerto Chiquito and the upper headwaters of Railroad Canyon. To the north, the topography transitions toward several distinct water bodies, including the shores of Stinking Lake and the smaller Thompson Lake tucked near Apache Mesa.

The eastern edge of the survey reveals the western margin of El Vado Reservoir, a significant regional water feature. This area, largely defined by its natural topography rather than dense settlement, is crossed by local routes like CR 322 and features the landmark Puerto Chiquito. The map illustrates a complex network of arroyos, such as Arroyo Archuleta and Cooper Arroyo, which represent the primary drainage systems for this high-altitude New Mexico environment.