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1967 Map of Swallow Nest Canyon

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Swallow Nest Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

Saera Ranch and a network of isolated water wells define this arid landscape along the border of De Baca and Chaves counties during the mid-to-late 1960s. The terrain is deeply cut by seasonal drainages including Wylie Draw, South Wylie Draw, and Huggins Draw, which converge toward the southeast. These watercourses are supported by numerous vital water sources such as Headwater Spring, Blue Hole Spring, and Rattlesnake Spring, which were essential for ranching operations in this high-desert environment.

Evidence of early rural infrastructure appears at Cavel Sch and various strategically placed tanks like Drake Tank, Redman Tank, and North Tank. The canyon systems, notably Swallow Nest Canyon and Coyote Canyon, provide the primary topographical relief across the quadrangle. This 1967 survey, later photorevised in 1982, reveals a land management pattern focused on water access, shown through named infrastructure like School Section Well, Horse Creek Well, and the Lower Horse Creek Spr.