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1955 Map of Lake John

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Lake John
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The high alpine plains of Jackson County are defined by a complex irrigation network in this mid-century survey. Ranching operations like Brands Ranch and Wattenberg Ranch anchor the landscape, supported by a sophisticated system of water rights including the Bighorn Cattle Company Ditch, Legal Tender Ditch, and Independent Ditch. These man-made channels divert water across the basin to sustain livestock in the shadows of Sheep Mountain.

The hydrography of the region is centered on the large basin of Lake John and the nearby Alkali Lake, with the North Platte River cutting through the southern portion of the quadrangle. Smaller features such as Brands Reservoir and various draws like Mansfield Draw illustrate the careful management of seasonal runoff in this arid environment, providing essential detail for researchers of Colorado water history and family ranching heritage.