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1981 Map of Rael Spring

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

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Gila National Forest encompasses the high country of the Tularosa Mountains, where the landscape transitions from the peaks down toward a broad eastern Depression. This 1981 survey documents a remote ranching and forest infrastructure characterized by a critical network of water sources, including Rael Spring and numerous named stock tanks like Peake Tank and Dark Canyon Tank.

Bursum Road serves as the primary artery through this terrain, winding past deep drainages such as Long Canyon and Sawmill Canyon. The presence of several named wells, including Frank Well, Boss Well, and Mayberry Well, indicates the importance of managed groundwater for livestock in this arid portion of Catron County. The topography is defined by the sharp contrast between the mountain slopes and the flatter basins where these water points are concentrated.