Loading map...

2016 Map of Dry Creek

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

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

Grand Mesa National Forest dominates the northern reaches of this Delta County landscape, where the high country gives way to a complex network of agricultural irrigation. The terrain is defined by a series of distinct plateaus including Redlands Mesa, Wilbanks Mesa, and Oak Mesa, each etched by deep drainage gullies like Stingley Gulch and Grassy Gulch.

Water management is central to the area's development, evidenced by the intricate system of gravity-fed waterways such as Cedar Mesa Ditch, Shindledecker Ditch, and Currant Cr Number 2 Ditch. These man-made channels divert flow from natural drainages like Leroux Cr and Cow Cr to support the high-altitude ranching and farming operations characteristic of the region. Recreational and livestock water storage is visible at Patterson Reservoir and Hunt Reservoir, while rugged landmarks like Spaulding Peak and the curiously named Hells Hole punctuate the more remote sections of the timberline.