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2017 Map of Bamforth Lake

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Bamforth Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

The Laramie River and its tributary, the Little Laramie River, dominate this high-plains landscape in Albany County. The map documents a sophisticated water management system critical for ranching in this arid environment, featuring the Biddick Ditch, Carroll Ditch Number 1, and the North Canal. These man-made channels weave between natural depressions and seasonal water bodies such as Bamforth Lake, Hailey Lake, and the curiously named Soap Holes.

Land use is largely defined by large-scale ranching operations, indicated by a network of private and service roads including Pascoe Ranch Rd and Raptor Ranch Rd. The terrain is characterized by the expansive Big Basin and numerous smaller lakes like Howell Lake and Rhodes Lake, illustrating the complex hydrology of the Laramie Plains before modern development or intensive subdivision altered the traditional ranching boundaries.