2017 Map of Round Mountain

About this map

Round Mountain anchors this high-desert landscape in Chaves County, where water management is the primary signature of land use. The terrain is defined by a network of drainage systems including Fifteenmile Arroyo, Little Cowboy Draw, and the winding Gallo Arroyo. Life in this arid region centers on scattered tanks and catchments such as Government Tank, Boulder Tank, and Akins Tank. These water sources, alongside the curiously named Government Water Hole, reveal the infrastructure required for ranching and survival in the New Mexico backcountry. Navigation through the canyons, like Threadgill Canyon and Cistern Canyon, is facilitated by a grid of rural tracks including Stargrass Rd and Purslane Rd. The map illustrates the stark intersection of natural topography and the Public Land Survey System during the early twenty-first century.