2010 Map of Mesito Reservoir

About this map

San Luis Hills and the winding course of the Rio Grande define this portion of the San Luis Valley, where the river cuts through the terrain at a section known locally as The Box. The landscape reflects a high-desert environment shaped by both dramatic geology and systematic agricultural development. To the east, the Mesito Reservoir and its associated Mesito Dam serve as a focal point for water management in an area marked by a dense grid of county roads, including County Rd-54 and County Rd-21. The intersection of natural landmarks like Music Mesa and Death Valley with this irrigation infrastructure illustrates the human effort to cultivate this arid Colorado plateau. Smaller peaks such as Sugar Loaf, the Brownie Hills, and the Fairy Hills punctuate the northern plains, while Culebra Creek flows westward toward the river, bisecting the network of rural routes.