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2016 Map of Center North

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

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

Agricultural precision and water management define the landscape north of Center, where a sophisticated network of human-made waterways sustains the high-altitude San Luis Valley. The town’s northern grid, including streets like Sylvester Ave and S Broadway St, gives way to a sprawling geometry of section lines and irrigation infrastructure. Key to the region's productivity are the Farmers Union Canal, the N Main Canal, and the extensive San Luis Valley Irrigation Drain, which together manipulate the local hydrology for desert farming.

Outside the immediate town limits, the terrain is marked by aviation and natural watercourses. Leach Airport serves as a vital transportation link for this remote ranching and farming community. In the northern reaches of the quadrangle, the natural flow of La Garita Cr meanders across the high plains, providing a stark contrast to the straight-line paths of the N Central Lateral and Lateral Forty-seven. This intersection of natural streams and deliberate engineering reflects the essential struggle and success of irrigation in southern Colorado.