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2016 Map of Lake John

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Lake John
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

Lake John and the surrounding high-altitude basin of Jackson County reveal a complex irrigation network essential for ranching at the headwaters of the North Platte River. This 2016 survey documents an intricate system of water management where the Bighorn Cattle Company Ditch and the Hanson and Wattenberg Ditch cut across the drainage of several draws, including Mansfield Draw and California Gulch. The landscape is defined by its riparian arteries and the seasonal wetlands bordering the Fork N Platte River, providing a clear record of land use in the North Park region.

To the southwest, the terrain rises sharply toward Sheep Mtn, while the valley floor is dotted with smaller water bodies like Alkali Lake and Brands Reservoir. The prevalence of named water features, such as the Legal Tender Ditch, Reithmeyer Ditch, and Ulrich Ditch, illustrates the persistent efforts to redirect mountain runoff for agricultural sustainability in this portion of the Colorado high country.