1965 Map of Gray Reservoir

About this map

Grand Mesa dominates this high-altitude landscape of western Colorado, where a complex network of man-made irrigation features and high-country reservoirs supported the surrounding valley's ranching and agriculture. In this mid-1960s survey, the terrain is defined by the transition from the timbered heights of the Grand Mesa National Forest and Gunnison National Forest down across expansive tables like Oak Mesa and Wakefield Mesa. Water management is the primary human imprint, evidenced by the Overland Ditch, Roatcap Ditch, and Schoneman Ditch Camp, which funneled snowmelt into basins such as Patterson Reservoirs and West Reservoir No 1. Mining activity is also recorded in the southern reaches of the quadrangle, including the Burdick Mine and the Fitzsimons Mines near The Basin, reflecting the diverse industrial utility of these mesas.