2016 Map of Elder

About this map

Apishapa River and its accompanying Apishapa Bluff define this Otero County landscape, where agriculture is driven by an intricate network of waterways. The northern sections of the map show the heavy reliance on engineered irrigation, featuring the Gatlin Canal, Otero Canal, and the Oxford Farmers Ditch. These systems support the settlement at Elder, a small community situated along a grid of county roads. Further south, the terrain becomes more varied as the river cuts through the land near Arnold Springs. To the east, the Mountain View Cem serves as a local landmark. This 2016 survey illustrates the persistent importance of water management in the high plains, evidenced by the Rocky Ford Highline Canal and the named topography of Smith Hollow.