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2023 Map of Wiley Mesa

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Wiley Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Wiley Mesa and Middle Mesa dominate this New Mexico landscape where the borders of Socorro, Cibola, and Catron counties converge. The terrain is defined by complex drainage systems and canyons, including the Painted Rock Canyon and the Miguel Chavez Canyon in the southern reaches. Water management is a primary feature of this arid environment, evidenced by numerous named reservoirs and springs such as Tadpole Tank, Wiley Lake, and Willow Spring.

Ephemeral watercourses like the Rio Salado and Blue Water Creek cut through the high tablelands, while local cattle ranching or land management history is reflected in names like Mertz and the scattered tank systems. Remote tracks such as Merch Rd and I R 21 provide the only named transit across the canyon-cut plateaus, illustrating the isolation of this corner of the state in the early 21st century.