2023 Map of Wire Lake

About this map

Wire Lake and the arid basins of the Pecos Valley region define this landscape along the border of De Baca and Chaves counties. The terrain is a network of ephemeral water sources and drainage features essential for ranching, including the family-named Casaus Lake and several stock tanks like Corona Tank and Sally Tank. The 285 highway cuts a straight diagonal through the eastern portion of the quadrangle, passing near Burro Hill and crossing drainage systems such as Dead Mexican Draw and Threadgill Canyon. This survey documents a contemporary ranching environment where historical tracks like Halfway Trl and Wirelake Rd connect isolated water points like North Home Lake and South Home Lake. The landscape is further characterized by deep geographic cuts like Fifteenmile Arroyo and various livestock watering stations such as Burro Draw Tank.