1961 Map of Puerco Dam

About this map

Rio Puerco carves a path through the northeastern portion of this landscape, its course marked by the remnant structures of the Puerco Dam (Ruin) and the notable Cuervo Crossing. The terrain is defined by a complex network of dry washes and arroyos, including Arroyo Cuervo and Arroyo Nine, which drain the expansive plateaus and mesas. Large tracts of the area are dedicated to the Laguna Indian Reservation and the historical land grant of Nuestra Señora de la Luz de las Lagunitas. Isolated outposts like Las Lagunitas Ranch and the small settlement at Nervio reflect the sparse, ranch-driven settlement patterns of the early 1960s. Scattered Prospects in the southern reaches, specifically near Cañada de los Alamos, indicate localized exploration for mineral resources within this arid New Mexico environment.