1967 Map of Fort Garland SW

About this map

The Sangre De Cristo Grant boundary dominates this high-altitude landscape of Costilla County, reflecting the complex land ownership patterns rooted in Spanish and Mexican land grants. The terrain transition is sharp, defined by the prominent Basaltic Hills to the west and the rising slopes toward the mountains in the east. Water management is the primary human footprint on this arid land, with a network of irrigation systems including the Trinchera Canal, Highline Canal, and the Sangre De Cristo Ditch moving water across the valley floor. In the southeastern corner, the Willow Creek Reservoir sits tucked against the foothills, while numerous wells are scattered throughout the center of the sheet, indicating the importance of groundwater for the region's agricultural viability.