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1973 Map of Tule Lake

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Tule Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

High plains ranching life in eastern New Mexico is recorded here during the early 1970s. The landscape is defined by its scarce water sources and the large-scale holdings typical of the region, including the Hart Ranch and Steele Ranch. The presence of numerous named water points such as East Sweet Well, Brown Well, and Little Blue Well underscores the critical importance of groundwater for livestock in this arid environment.

Surface water is concentrated at Tule Lake and the smaller Little Tule Lake, situated near an expanse of Shifting Sand. The topography shows the gradual descent of the Cañada del Tule as it winds toward the boundary of Curry Co Roosevelt Co. This survey captures a moment when traditional land use persisted along the Sun Dale Valley Road, evidenced by the network of private wells and fence lines that partitioned the open range.