2010 Map of Banta Ridge

About this map

Banta Ridge and the Gilsonite Hills anchor this high-desert landscape in northwestern Colorado, where water management is the primary marker of human intervention. The terrain is defined by a series of engineered catchments along Cottonwood Creek, including the Lower Cottonwood Reservoir, Middle Cottonwood Reservoir, and Upper Cottonwood Reservoir. These features, along with the Banta Flats Reservoir and Shavetail Reservoir, illustrate the critical importance of water storage in an area drained by seasonal features like Shavetail Wash and Big Horse Draw.