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1963 Map of Vigas Canyon

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Vigas Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

The Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation and Carson National Forest converge across this rugged New Mexico landscape, dominated by high mesas and deep-cut canyons. The 1960s terrain is heavily marked by the energy industry, with numerous Gas Wells and an expansive Gas Field established amidst the topography of Tuckers Ridge and Cereza Mesa. These industrial markers reflect a mid-century period of resource extraction that reshaped the remote high desert.

Water sources are vital landmarks in this arid environment, often identified by family-named springs and livestock tanks. Locations such as Agua Bonita Spring, Jaramillo Spring, and Candelaria Waterhole suggest a history of seasonal ranching and traditional land use that predates the industrial gas infrastructure. The interplay of named arroyos like Compañero Arroyo and deep drainage systems like Vigas Canyon provides a clear view of the natural corridors used for movement before modern roads were established.