1983 Map of Tierra Amarilla

About this map

High-country agricultural patterns and irrigation networks define the Tierra Amarilla Grant in northern Rio Arriba County during the early 1980s. This survey illustrates the intricate water management system essential for high-altitude farming, featuring the Park View Ditch and numerous smaller channels drawing from the Rio Brazos and Rio Chama. The settlement pattern remains deeply rooted in traditional New Mexican communities such as Tierra Amarilla, Los Ojos, and Ensenada, where dwellings cluster along the fertile valley floors. The landscape transitions from the river valleys to the surrounding hills, marked by features like Rito de Tierra Amarilla and Willow Creek. Smaller outposts like Plaza Blanca and La Puente are visible alongside local industry, evidenced by the scattered Gravel Pit operations near the riverbanks.