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1985 Map of Wrather Arch

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Wrather Arch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Paria Canyon corridor and its massive surrounding tablelands dominate this mid-1980s topographical study. The high elevation of the Paria Plateau is marked by a network of isolated water catchments essential for high-desert survival, including Mackelprang Tank, Lynn Tank, and the Little Lower Reservoir. Evidence of human activity and ranching history in this remote Coconino County landscape appears through the naming of Adams Pasture and several corrals connected by primitive 4wd tracks.

Prominent geological formations define the eastern portion of the map, notably the massive Wrather Arch and the high peaks of Cedar Mountain. The drainages of the Paria River and Judd Hollow cut deeply into the earth, creating a stark contrast with the broad, rolling topography of the Sand Hills to the west. This map serves as a detailed record of water management in a desert environment, capturing the specific locations of historic ponds and tanks like Jay Pond and Twin Tanks before more recent climate shifts.