1955 Map of Lake John

About this map

Brands Ranch and Wattenberg Ranch anchor this mid-1950s depiction of the high mountain basin in Jackson County. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of irrigation systems critical to the local ranching economy, including the Legal Tender Ditch, North Reithmeyer Ditch, and the Cattle Company Ditch. These waterways manage the flow from the North Platte River and smaller tributaries like Monahan Creek to support the arid flats surrounding Lake John and Alkali Lake.