Loading map...

2016 Map of Bates Lake

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Bates Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

Apishapa Canyon and the Apishapa River cut through this arid landscape in southeastern Colorado, defining a territory marked by seasonal drainages and essential water catchments. The area is dominated by deep arroyos and canyons, including East Cross Canyon and Lambing Canyon, which funnel runoff toward the southern plains. Human presence is sparse, centered on the small settlement of Simpson and the open expanse of Tyrone Flats in the southwest corner.

Water management is the central theme of this terrain, as evidenced by numerous named reservoirs and springs such as Bates Reservoir, Baker Reservoir, and Rowe Spring. These features, along with the eponymous Bates Lake, illustrate the necessity of capturing surface water in a region where Timpas Cr and Bates Lake Arroyo are frequently dry. Land use is further defined by the Public Land Survey System boundaries, visible across the high ground of Tyler Hill.