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1973 Map of White Draw

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of White Draw
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

The arid ranching landscape of Val Verde County is defined here by a network of ephemeral watercourses and deep-set draws, including the primary drainage of White Draw and the various branches of Dolan Creek. In this sparsely populated corner of the Edwards Plateau, water management is the central human imprint on the land. A vast array of named water sources and wind-powered pumps, such as Carlos Windmill, Juana Windmill, and the Broke Tank Windmills, sustain the cattle operations that dominate the region.

Remote outposts like High Lonesome Ranch and White Ranch are connected by primitive roads and dedicated landing strips, illustrating the logistical isolation of mid-century West Texas. Natural water features like Big Norris Spring and Little Norris Spring provide rare perennial points of interest amidst the winding contours of Threemile Draw and the surrounding limestone hills. The presence of the Oil Well Windmill suggests the varied subsurface exploration typical of the era's regional economy.