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2018 Map of Hightower SW

Name: 2018 Topographic Map of Hightower SW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2018
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2018

About this map

The Laramie River and its seasonal tributaries define the landscape of this Platte County region, which is dominated by ranching infrastructure and forest reserves. The western edge is anchored by the Medicine Bow National Forest, while the rest of the terrain is a complex network of private and public land management focused on water rights. Numerous storage projects, including the Naffziger Reservoir, Bohke Reservoir, and Mertz Reservoir, point to the critical role of irrigation in this high-plains environment.

Transportation through the drainage basins follows established corridors such as Palmer Canyon Rd and Fletcher Park Rd, which connect the remote draws to wider regional markets. Local water management is visible through features like the Mertz Ditch and Cramer Ditch, reflecting a historic reliance on engineered flows from Luman Cr and Wagonhound Cr. Significant terrain features like Palmer Canyon and Shapley Draw illustrate the deep erosion patterns common to the Platte River watershed.