2019 Map of Hardin

About this map

The South Platte River cuts across the northern reaches of this landscape, anchoring a complex system of agricultural water management. The small settlement of Hardin sits near the riverbanks, positioned where the Empire Intake Canal and Riverside Intake Canal diverge to serve the surrounding Weld County plains. This area is defined by the transition between the riparian habitat of the Centennial Valley SWA (east) and the high-desert topography to the south, where Box Elder Cr meanders toward the main river channel. The map illustrates a grid of rural routes including Co RD 50 and Co RD 48, which provide access to the vast open tracts of the Colorado prairie. Historical water rights are evident through features like Latham Ditch, tracing the engineering required to sustain cultivation in this arid environment.