1970 Map of Cow Creek Reservoir SW

About this map

Kinney Rim dominates the western portion of this high-desert landscape, a prominent geological barrier that defines the local hydrology. This 1970s survey captures a territory straddling the Wyoming-Colorado border between Sweetwater County and Moffat County. The land is defined by an extensive network of small catchments and named pools such as Rocky Res, Forsaken Res, and High Center Res, reflecting the critical importance of water management for livestock ranching in this arid environment. Significant watercourses like Shell Creek and the meandering Crooked Wash cut through the terrain, while landmarks like Eagle Rock Draw and the Lower Shell Creek Crossing mark the paths used by ranchers and surveyors. This map preserves a specific moment in the land-use history of the borderlands, showing how ranching operations like the West Cow Creek Ranch Reservoir utilized the natural topography.