1980 Map of Sixteen Canyon

About this map

The Fort Bliss Military Reservation (McGregor Range) dominates this high-desert landscape of Otero County, where topography dictates the patterns of life and movement. The Sacramento River and its accompanying drainage systems, including Sixteen Canyon and Seventeen Canyon, reveal the complex erosion patterns common to this arid region. For researchers, the presence of the Prather Ranch and a nearby isolated Grave south of the township line provides evidence of early ranching families who carved out an existence before the expansion of the military range. Human infrastructure is primarily focused on water management for livestock and survival, as seen in named water sources such as Shipment Tank, Chess Tank, and Trammel Well. The map illustrates the 1970s landscape of South-Central New Mexico, showing the intersection of private agricultural history and national defense requirements.