1964 Map of Austin Reservoir

About this map

The Union Pacific railroad corridor anchors the northern reach of this high-desert landscape in Uinta County, passing through the small settlement of Elkhurst. The surrounding terrain is defined by the winding course of Muddy Creek and the stark geological markers of The Pinnacle and The Nipple. Water management in this arid region is central to the landscape, dominated by the Austin Reservoir and the extensive Austin Canal system that cuts across the township lines. A series of pipelines and local infrastructure near Austin show the mid-century development of the area's resource network. The map captures the balance between the industrial demands of the rail line and the agricultural necessity of water distribution in the Wyoming basin during the early 1960s.