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1969 Map of Juniata Reservoir

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Juniata Reservoir
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Purdy Mesa and the surrounding high desert terrain in Mesa County are defined by a complex network of water management features designed to sustain ranching and agriculture in this arid landscape. This late 1960s environment shows a sophisticated system of reservoirs and aqueducts, including the Reeder Mesa Flow Line and the Kannah Creek Flow Line. Significant water storage is provided by Juniata Res and Hallenbeck Reservoir, which serve as vital hubs for local irrigation via the Juniata Ditch and Lander Extension Ditch.

Isolated ranching operations like the Cross Bar Cross Ranch illustrate the traditional land use on the mesa, while the northeastern corner rises into the protected timber of the Grand Mesa National Forest. Transportation is limited to functional routes like Fortymile Road and various jeep trails, emphasizing the area's role as a working landscape of ditches and grazing lands rather than a residential center.