2019 Map of Red Horse Gulch

About this map

Barker Dome and the surrounding high desert terrain define this corner of the Four Corners region, where the boundary between Montezuma County and La Plata County meets the New Mexico state line. The landscape is heavily dissected by drainage systems like Barker Arroyo and Wheeler Arroyo, which carve deep paths through the local geology. In an area where water is the primary architect of the land, small-scale catchments such as First Reservoir, Peterson Reservoir, and Floyd Reservoir point to the critical role of water management in supporting the livestock or ranching efforts typical of this arid borderland. Transport is limited to rugged corridors like Johnson Canyon Rd and various county roads, reflecting a sparse settlement pattern dominated by topographic features rather than urban centers. This 2019 survey documents the complex network of arroyos and draws, including Red Horse Gulch and Maverick Gulch, that dictate the movement of both water and people across the high plateau.