1970 Map of Van Winkle Lake

About this map

Snow Ranch and Brownfield Ranch anchor this arid landscape in Otero County, where life followed the sparse water sources of the High Desert. The ephemeral basin of Van Winkle Lake and artificial catchment points like Jack Smith Tank and the CCC Tank illustrate the vital importance of water management for cattle ranching in the late 1960s. The topography is defined by significant drainage systems, including the long paths of Shiloh Draw and Coffelt Draw, which carve through the terrain toward the prominence of Brownfield Hill. To the east, the relief becomes more pronounced as the land drops into Boardwell Canyon. This survey captures a moment of established ranching heritage, documenting the network of unimproved roads and jeep trails that connected isolated homesteads and livestock tanks across the Otero County range.