1967 Map of Lobatos

About this map

Agricultural life in southern Colorado is defined by a dense network of water engineering, as seen in this 1967 survey of the land south of the North Branch Conejos River. The map meticulously charts dozens of irrigation channels, including the Manassa Ditch, Valdez Ditch, and Heads Mill Ditch, which sustain the high-desert valley floor. This intricate system feeds local landmarks like Cove Lake Reservoir and Alta Lake, supporting ranching operations such as T Bone Ranch and the small settlement of Lobatos. The terrain is punctuated by the South Hills and the winding course of the Rio San Antonio. On the western edge of the quadrangle, an Old Railroad Grade provides a clear record of former transportation corridors that once linked these isolated ranching outposts and settlements like Saritas to the wider region.