1970 Map of Ball Island

About this map

Ball Island sits at the heart of an intricate irrigation network in Sublette County, defined by the winding course of Cottonwood Creek and the Green River. In the early 1970s, the landscape was a complex system of water management, where dozens of named channels like Essex Ditch, Ranchero Canal, and Jigger Ditch diverted mountain runoff to the arid flats. This infrastructure supported ranching life near the Soap Hole Basin and the striking Red Hills formation. Evidence of early settlement and land use is visible at the Ball Cem and along Luman Road, while the southern reaches show early water storage at Billy Canyon Reservoir No 1. The map reveals a high-altitude landscape where natural drainage and human engineering intersect to sustain the high plains.