1952 Map of San Anacia

About this map

The confluence of the Rio Salado and Rio Grande dominates this desert landscape, where water management infrastructure defines the local geography. The settlement of San Acacia sits at a critical junction near the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, supported by an intricate network of irrigation including the San Acacia Drainage Canal and a complex Drainage Ditch system. To the west, the massive Sierra Ladrones range rises above the Sevilleta Grant, carved by numerous dry washes such as Cañada Popotosa and Arroyo Lino. This 1952 record, updated with 1971 aerial observations, captures a specific era of New Mexican hydraulic engineering, showing the extensive levee systems and gaging stations designed to control the volatile river flows through the Valle Frutosa.