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2020 Map of Rael Spring

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Rael Spring
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

The Tularosa Mountains dominate this high-altitude landscape within the Gila National Forest, where water management is the primary sign of human modification. Numerous artificial reservoirs, including Peak Tank, Rael Canyon Tank, and the curiously named Jeep Tank, are strategically positioned to capture runoff from the surrounding peaks and steep drainages like Dark Canyon and Sawmill Canyon. This network of tanks suggests a focus on livestock ranching or wildlife support in a land where reliable surface water is scarce.

Running north-to-south through the center of the sheet, Bursum Rd provides the main arterial access through the mountainous terrain. The map details a complex system of drainage, from the eponymous Rael Spring to the winding depths of Musick Canyon and T H Canyon. The land is neatly divided by township and range lines, such as t5s r15w, indicating the systematic surveying that underlies this portion of Catron County.