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1969 Map of Lay

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Lay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The settlement of Lay serves as the focal point for this 1960s study of the high plateau and drainage basins in Moffat County. The landscape is defined by the significant elevation of Sugarloaf Peak and its surrounding Sugarloaf Basin, where the natural topography transitions into a series of deeply etched drainages like Wet Gulch and Mud Gulch. This period of mapping documents an era where traditional grazing and water resources intersected with emerging industrial activity, evidenced by the presence of a Strip Mine and an Aqueduct system near the western boundary.

Water remains a critical element for this arid region, with Lay Creek and several isolated water sources such as Mud Spring and Spring providing the necessary infrastructure for ranching and local habitation. To the south, Lay Peak stands as a prominent landmark near a modern Radio Tower, marking the intersection of the rugged local terrain with mid-century telecommunications and transit routes through the high desert of Colorado.