2016 Map of Medano Ranch

About this map

Medano Ranch sits at the heart of this high-desert basin, where a complex network of seasonal creeks and shallow lakes defines the San Luis Valley landscape. The western fringes of Great Sand Dunes National Park reach into this area, illustrating the meeting point of massive aeolian deposits and the hydrologic drainage of the Sangre de Cristo foothills. Prominent water features like San Luis Lake, Cotton Lake, and the smaller Dollar Lake reveal a land dominated by intermittent flows, including Big Spring Cr and San Luis Cr. This 2016 survey documents the modern layout of rural infrastructure, tracing local roads such as LN 6 N and Fifth Ave that cut across the section lines of the public land survey system. The map serves as a detailed record of water distribution and land management within this unique Colorado ecosystem.