1986 Map of Stevens Mesa

About this map

Stevens Mesa and Wildcat Mesa dominate this section of the Colorado Plateau, where the high desert landscape is defined by massive landforms and a scarce but vital water network. This 1980s U.S. Geological Survey provisional map documents a transition in geography across the boundary of Wayne and Garfield counties. While the Upper Blue Hills rise to the north, the drainage patterns of Sweetwater Creek, Oak Creek, and Cedar Creek carve deep into the plateau's edges. Strategic water sources like Indianwater Seep and Maidenwater Spring are clearly marked, providing critical reference points for historical land use in an area otherwise characterized by intermittent flows such as Dry Wash and Dugout Creek. The map effectively captures the isolated character of Thompson Mesa and the lower Bench areas before modern development or major shifts in land management.