1968 Map of Badger Wash

About this map

Badger Wash and the surrounding drainage basins in Western Colorado are defined by a complex network of canyons and water-management systems as they appeared in the late 1960s. The landscape is bisected by the Government Highline Canal, a critical piece of local irrigation infrastructure that contours along the base of the higher terrain. Further south, the path of the Old Railroad Grade follows the corridor of Salt Creek, illustrating the historical reliance on these natural gaps for transportation through the region's dissected topography. The map details the confluence of West Salt Creek and East Salt Creek, providing a clear view of the hydrological patterns that dictated early land use. This survey includes the boundary between Garfield and Mesa Counties, showing a territory dominated by seasonal washes like Dry Wash and the prominent Prairie Canyon.