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2022 Map of McIntosh Ranch

Name: 2022 Topographic Map of McIntosh Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2022
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2022

About this map

The arid landscape of Bent County is defined by an intricate network of irrigation infrastructure designed to harness the waters of Adobe Cr. Central to this water management system is the massive Adobe Creek Reservoir, which dominates the northeastern portion of the quadrangle. The map documents the vital role of the Fort Lyon Canal and its associated storage systems, which were essential for transforming the high plains into productive agricultural land.

Water moves through a complex series of engineered channels, including the Horse Cr Reservoir Inlet Ditch and the Adobe Cr Reservoir Outlet Ditch, illustrating the intensive hydraulic modification of the terrain. While the area remains largely rural and defined by large ranch boundaries like T21S R53W, the concentration of labels around Blue Lake and the various storage canals highlights the priority of water rights and distribution in this part of eastern Colorado.