2016 Map of Fort Garland SW

About this map

The Basaltic Hills rise above a strictly gridded agricultural landscape in this southwestern portion of Costilla County. This 2016 survey highlights a complex irrigation network essential for high-altitude farming in the San Luis Valley, featuring major waterways such as the Sangre de Cristo Ditch Number 3, the Trinchera Canal, and the Highline Canal. These man-made channels snake across the terrain, diverging from natural water sources like Ojito Cr to serve the expansive grid of roads, including Ute Ave and Aztec Ave. The southern reaches of the map are defined by the presence of the Willow Cr Reservoir, a critical catchment point near the base of the surrounding mountain ranges. This map captures the intersection of early water rights and modern rural development, where the geometry of the road system meets the sinuous path of historic Colorado water infrastructure.