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2016 Map of Gem Village

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Gem Village
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

Oxford and Gem Village anchor this landscape in La Plata County, where the high desert terrain is defined by a sophisticated network of irrigation infrastructure. This 2016 survey illustrates the vital role of water management in southwestern Colorado, showing extensive systems like the Pioneer Ditch, King Consolidated Ditch, and Morrison Consolidated Ditch that redirect flow across the high mesas. These man-made channels cut through natural landforms such as Long Hollow, Holman Canyon, and Yeager Canyon, demonstrating the intersection of agricultural necessity and the area's geological character.

In the southern reaches, the Durango-La Plata County Airport stands near the confluence of local drainages like Salt Cr and Rock Cr. Cultural history is noted at the Ouray Memorial Cem near the banks of the Los Pinos River, while the western edge is marked by the Florida River. The map provides a contemporary view of rural residential growth, with named roads like Hollow Ridge Rd and Sundance Hills Rd branching into the canyons and draws that overlook the river valleys.