1963 Map of Colona

About this map

Colona sits as a primary valley settlement along the Uncompahgre River, serving as a focal point where the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad tracks parallel the water's course. This early 1960s survey illustrates a landscape defined by the transition from the irrigated river bottom to the high elevations of Log Hill Mesa and Piñon Ridge. The complexity of local water management is evident through the engineered paths of the South Canal, West Canal, and the Mc Donald Ditch, which redirect water across the arid terrain.