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2019 Map of Elder

Name: 2019 Topographic Map of Elder
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2019
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2019

About this map

Elder serves as a focal point for this Otero County landscape, where the high plains transition into a complex network of managed waterways. The agricultural character of the region is defined by the extensive irrigation system, including the Otero Canal, Catlin Canal, and the Oxford Farmers Ditch, which redirect water across the arid terrain. These man-made channels contrast with the natural course of the Apishapa River and the rugged topography of Apishapa Bluff to the south.

A network of section-line roads, such as Co RD KK and Co RD 10, grid the landscape, providing access to remote locations like Arnold Springs and the Mountain View Cem located in the northeastern corner. The presence of the Rocky Ford Highline Canal further illustrates the sophisticated engineering required to sustain local ranching and farming operations. This survey documents the intersection of industrial-scale water management and the natural drainage of Smith Hollow in the early twenty-first century.