1981 Map of Spring Water Canyon

About this map

Cienega Creek winds through this desert landscape, serving as a vital corridor for the scattered ranching operations in the early 1980s. The map documents the critical water infrastructure required for cattle and homesteads in the arid Pima County terrain, featuring named outposts like Cienega Ranch, Hummel Ranch, and Clyne Ranch. A network of four-wheel-drive trails connects remote points of interest, including the Lower Spring Water Windmill and the Upper Spring Water Windmill. The drainage patterns are intricate, with Spring Water Canyon and Mud Spring Canyon cutting through the topography alongside numerous washes and gulches like Fortynine Wash and Oak Tree Gulch. This survey captures a moment when traditional land use persisted through remote windmills and tanks, such as Boulder Tank and the Cottonwood Windmill, essential for sustaining life and industry across these high desert reaches.