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1961 Map of Finley Reservoir

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Finley Reservoir
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The North Platte River winds through the southwestern corner of this Carbon County landscape, where the high plains meet the western edge of the Medicine Bow National Forest. This 1961 survey illustrates a region defined by extensive water management for ranching, evidenced by the intricate network of irrigation channels including the Wiant Ditch, Elk Hollow Ditch, and the Enncampment Valley Ditch. Named ranching outposts such as Lazy River Ranch, Chastain Ranch, and Blom Ranch are established near the river and spring-fed creeks, highlighting the mid-century agricultural footprint in the shadow of Cedar Ridge.

Water storage is central to the area's development, with Finley Reservoir and Horn and Meason Reservoir serving as critical landmarks. To the east, the terrain rises into the timbered foothills of the national forest, where Cumberland Gulch and Goetz Creek drain toward the lower draws. The presence of the Union Pacific line in the south and various Jeep Trails indicates the transportation corridors used to navigate this expanse of range and ridge.