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1961 Map of Puerco Dam

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Puerco Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

The Rio Puerco drainage system dominates this high-desert landscape of Sandoval County, where the transition from flat mesa tops to deep arroyo carving is evident. Significant land grants and tribal territories define the human geography, notably the Laguna Indian Reservation Montaño Bernabe and the Nuestra Señora de la Luz de las Lagunitas. These boundaries cut across a terrain shaped by seasonal waterflow, where features like Salado Creek and Arroyo Cuervo provide the primary geographical markers.

Evidence of ranching and early infrastructure appears at the Las Lagunitas Ranch and the Puerco Dam (Ruin), suggesting the persistent challenge of water management in this arid environment. The map also records localized mining activity through various Prospects scattered near Cañoncitos and Cañada de Salada. Cultural transit points, such as Cuervo Crossing, highlight how the natural geography of the arroyos dictated travel through the Rio Puerco valley.