1961 Map of Chalk Mountain

About this map

High-altitude water management defines this 1960s landscape, where dozens of small irrigation reservoirs are scattered across the plateau. The boundary between Grand Mesa National Forest and Gunnison National Forest bisects the terrain, revealing an extensive network of human-engineered water storage in a high-country environment. Named features such as Overland Reservoir and Monument Res No 1 serve as primary catchments, while smaller, colorfully named basins like Skimmed Milk Res, Wash Tub Res, and Holy Terror Res suggest the colloquial history of early ranching and water rights in Delta and Mesa counties.