1979 Map of Sand Wells

About this map

Papago Indian Reservation land defines this corner of Pima County, where the desert floor meets the rising peaks of the North Comobabi Mountains. In the late 1970s, life in this arid landscape centered on vital water sources like Sand Wells, Standing Bar Tank, and Black Mtn Well. The terrain is marked by ephemeral drainages such as Ko Vaya Wash and isolated elevations including Black Mountain. Human presence is evidenced by small settlements like Lorenzo, scattered corrals, and a prospect located near the eastern mountain slopes. This map documents a period when access was largely provided by a network of unimproved tracks and a Jeep Trail, reflecting the enduring character of this remote Tohono O'odham territory before modernization altered the traditional water-management landscape.