2015 Map of James Lake

About this map

James Lake and the surrounding high plains of Albany County are defined by a complex network of irrigation and water management features. The landscape is etched with historical waterworks including Bellamy Ditch, Battin Ditch, and Snake Ditch, which redirect water across the arid terrain to support local ranching. High points like Sevenmile Hill and Signal Hill provide topographic contrast to the drainage basins of the Little Laramie River and Fourmile Cr. The presence of roads such as Dutton Creek Rd and Hunt Rd underscores the sparse, rural nature of this region, where land use is closely tied to the availability of water. These engineered waterways reveal the persistent effort to transform the Wyoming steppe through systematic irrigation, as seen in the various branches of the Bellamy system.