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1964 Map of Basin

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Basin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Dry Creek Basin dominates this portion of San Miguel County, where ranching life and rugged water management define the landscape in the mid-1960s. Small hubs of activity are centered around Beards Corner and the Young Ranch, while the small settlement of Basin sits near the intersection of several unimproved roads. The drainage network is complex, characterized by seasonal or intermittent flows like Dead Horse Creek and Nelson Creek, which carve through the high plateaus and canyons.

The human footprint is sparse but functional, featuring a remote Landing Area and a Gaging Sta for monitoring water levels. Distinctive local landmarks such as Poison Spider Spring and Horse Park reflect the era's reliance on specific water sources and grazing lands. The topography is marked by significant erosion patterns, visible in the winding paths of Broad Canyon and Big Gypsum Creek, illustrating a high-desert environment shaped by the forces of the Colorado plateau.