2015 Map of Elk Basin SW

About this map

Ralston Flats sits at the heart of this Wyoming landscape, where the arid high desert meets a complex network of man-made water management. The terrain is defined by the sharp rise of Polecat Bench to the east and the deep drainages of West Fork Big Sand Coulee. The map reveals an intricate system of agricultural irrigation, featuring various canals and laterals such as the Ralston Lateral and Lateral H-141. This water infrastructure supports a series of catchment areas, including Cat Track Reservoir, Middle Sand Coulee Reservoir, and Upper Sand Coulee Reservoir. The arrangement of these reservoirs and the surrounding Alkali Cr Patch highlights the era's ongoing efforts to harness runoff in a region dominated by sagebrush and intermittent streams like N Alkali Cr.