2013 Map of Lake John

About this map

Lake John and the surrounding high-altitude basin define this Jackson County landscape, where water management is central to the area's ranching heritage. The map documents an intricate network of irrigation systems, including the Bighorn Cattle Company Ditch and the Hanson and Wattenberg Ditch, which redirect water across the terrain to support local livestock operations like the Wattenberg Ranch. The geography is shaped by numerous seasonal watercourses and depressions such as Lawrence Draw and California Gulch, all draining toward the N Fork N Platte River. To the southwest, the steep rise of Sheep Mountain provides a sharp contrast to the basin floor. This 2013 survey serves as a precise record of the man-made infrastructure required to sustain agriculture in this arid region, showing how property lines and roads like Co RD-7 follow the geometric grid of the Public Land Survey System.