1966 Map of Sand Spring

About this map

The Navajo Indian Reservation landscape in San Juan County is defined by the complex drainage systems of the high desert. This 1966 topographic study, updated with 1978 photogrammetric data, centers on the ephemeral water sources critical to life in this arid region. The confluence of Salt Wash and Little Shiprock Wash dominates the hydrology, carving deep pathways through the terrain. Human presence is marked primarily by scattered water improvements, including the named Sand Spring, a secondary Spring, and several isolated Well locations. These features suggest a landscape managed for livestock or seasonal movement rather than permanent settlement. The survey area is bisected by the boundary between T. 29 N. and T. 28 N., providing a precise look at the township and range grid as it was maintained in the late 1960s.