1963 Map of Beecher Island NW

About this map

The Arikaree River basin in Yuma County reveals a landscape shaped by intermittent drainage and the gradual erosion of the High Plains. This 1963 survey captures the area just northwest of the Beecher Island site, showing a network of braided seasonal channels including North Fork Willow Creek, South Fork Willow Creek, and Dry Willow Creek. A single, isolated Grave in section 17 serves as a quiet marker of early pioneer or ranching history on these semi-arid uplands. The terrain is characterized by the divide between the Black Wolf Creek drainage and the larger river system, punctuated by landmarks like Squaw Hill. Human activity is primarily represented by a small-scale industrial Gravel Pit and a sprawling grid of section lines, indicating the persistent influence of the Public Land Survey System on Eastern Colorado's ranching territory.