2019 Map of Dolores West

About this map

The San Juan National Forest meets an intricate network of agricultural irrigation in this high-desert landscape near the edge of Cortez. Water management is the defining characteristic of the region, visible through the expansive McPhee Reservoir and Narraguinnep Reservoir, which feed a complex system of man-made waterways including the Main Canal Number 1, Highline Ditch, and Upper Hermana Lateral. This infrastructure supports the small settlements of Lebanon and Dolores, where local history is anchored by sites like the Lebanon Cem and Summit Ridge Cem. The terrain is deeply incised by several natural drainages such as May Canyon and Leavell Draw, while the Dolores River continues its course in the northeast. This 2019 survey captures a landscape where modern engineering and old pioneer-era cemeteries coexist among the mesas.