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2013 Map of White Flat

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of White Flat
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Middle Arroyo and its drainage network define the geography of this Chaves County landscape, where the high desert meets the rangelands of eastern New Mexico. The small settlement of White Flat serves as a focal point near the border with Lincoln County, connected to the surrounding territory by NM-246 and a series of rural routes like White Flat Rd. The distribution of water resources is critical to the survival of local ranching operations, evidenced by family-named landmarks and infrastructure such as the Middle Arroyo Ranch, White Flat Ranch, and Cedar Hill Ranch.

Strategic water management is further highlighted by numerous livestock tanks and wells, including Big Joe Tank, Little Joe Tank, and the Middle Arroyo East Well. Topographic features like Cedar Hill and Walnut Draw provide natural landmarks for navigation across the basin. This survey documents the intersection of modern road networks with traditional land use patterns, illustrating how water access dictates the placement of remote ranching outposts and settlements.