1956 Map of Johnny Moore Mountain

About this map

High-altitude ranching and sophisticated water management define this mid-century look at the Colorado backcountry near the Jackson and Larimer County line. The landscape is dominated by the Medicine Bow Mountains and the peak of Johnny Moor Mountain, where the headwaters of the Canadian River and Michigan River are diverted through an extensive network of irrigation infrastructure. This system, including the Kenney Ditch, Kelly Highline Ditch, and Fernando Ditch, illustrates the critical role of water rights in the arid mountain west. Scattered cattle operations like Dodge Ranch, Dickens Ranch, and Rogerson Ranch represent the primary human imprint on the land, while the Marr Mine and a private Landing Field show the area's diverse industrial and transport uses. This survey, mapped for the development of the Missouri River Basin, preserves the exact locations of these family-run ranches and specialized water works as they functioned in the 1950s.