1955 Map of Spring Lake

About this map

The Pecos River dominates this mid-century landscape of southeastern New Mexico, accompanied by complex hydrology including the Kaiser Channel and the Pecos River (Old Channel). While the river bottom provides a lush contrast to the surrounding arid terrain, the eastern uplands are defined by a burgeoning mid-1950s petroleum industry. Deep-set draws like Dog Canyon Draw, Hart Canyon, and Logan Draw cut through the plains toward the river valley, providing natural drainage for the expansive Empire Oil Field and Daugherty Oil Field. This survey captures a specific era of resource extraction where every oil well was active at the time of mapping, supported by infrastructure such as a Pumping Station and a Gaging Station along the waterway. Topographic details reveal the transition from the seasonal waters of Tumbleweed Draw to more permanent features like Spring Lake and Brainard Lake.