1979 Map of San Juan Mesa West

About this map

Billy The Kid Spring serves as a focal point in this high-desert landscape of eastern New Mexico, where the terrain transitions from the low-lying Olive Basin to the elevated expanse of San Juan Mesa. The topography is defined by the erosion of Hernandez Draw and several unnamed drainages that cut through the mesa's western edge. Evidence of ranching and remote infrastructure is sparse but clear, including the Braun Windmill, various stock tanks like Red Tank, and a long-distance Pipeline cutting across the southwestern quadrant. While largely devoid of settlements, the network of Jeep Trails and features like the Gravel Pit and Drill Hole point to the area's utility for resource extraction and land management in the late 1970s.