2010 Map of Owl Ridge

About this map

Owl Ridge and Owl Mountain dominate this Jackson County landscape, where a sophisticated network of irrigation ditches supports high-country ranching. Named homesteads like Vils Ranch and Illinois Ranch are scattered across the terrain, connected by the Illinois River and its various tributaries including Spring Creek and Deer Creek. The hydraulic engineering of the area is particularly evident through named water works such as the Soldiers Home Ditch, Oklahoma Ditch Number 1, and the Pioneer Ditch. Large-scale water management is further anchored by the Shawver Reservoir and Rand Reservoir in the southern portion of the quadrangle. This map documents a region defined by its reliance on water rights and the historical persistence of private ranching operations in northern Colorado.