2023 Map of Bluebell

About this map

The agrarian settlements of Bluebell and Upalco anchor this portrait of Duchesne County, Utah, where a sophisticated network of irrigation canals transforms the arid landscape. The map reveals the intricate engineering required to water the basin, featuring the Bluebell Lateral, Lake Fork Canal, and Leland Canal, which draw from the Lake Fork River and Big Sand Wash Reservoir. These waterways are the lifeblood of the valley, supporting homesteads situated between the high topography of Monarch Ridge and Pine Ridge. Local history is preserved at the Bluebell Cem and Upalco Cem, while the rugged natural breaks of Gundy Hollow and the prominent Flat Top define the eastern terrain. The survey captures a high-desert environment defined by its water management and the enduring continuity of its rural communities.