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1989 Map of Recapture Pocket

Name: 1989 Topographic Map of Recapture Pocket
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

The San Juan River flows through this corner of San Juan County, cutting a prominent path south of the Navajo Indian Reservation boundary. In the late 1980s, the landscape was defined by its geological features and active resource extraction, with numerous Oil Wells and Drill Holes dotting the mesas. Distinctive landmarks such as Chimney Rocks and the winding Recapture Creek provide navigational anchors in a terrain of high plateaus and deep canyons.

The industrial footprint is evident through a network of pipelines and transit lines crossing the McCracken Mesa and Bluff Bench. Small-scale features like a Footbridge over the river and various Springs reflect the local hydrology and human movement through this arid region. The map captures the intersection of indigenous lands and modern energy development, characterized by the rugged formations of McCracken Point and Turners Bluff.