2013 Map of Maria Reservoir

About this map

Cuchara Junction serves as the focal point of this Huerfano County landscape, where the Cucharas River and numerous arroyos dictate the settlement and agricultural patterns. The area is defined by a sophisticated water management system necessary for high-plains survival, featuring the Duran Ditch, Gomez Ditch, and Holita Ditch. These man-made channels feed a series of catchments including Maria Reservoir, Sharps Orchard Reservoir, and Valdez Lake. To the north, the prominent Bradford Mesa rises above the drainage basins of Sandy Arroyo and Pictou Arroyo. For those researching local heritage, the map identifies the Valdez Cem near the junction and the Bustos Cem further south along Walsen Arroyo, marking the locations of early community centers in this river valley.