2013 Map of Owl Ridge

About this map

The Illinois River and Willow Cr define this Jackson County landscape, where water rights and ranching heritage are preserved in a complex network of irrigation ditches. Historical family operations like Illinois Ranch, Vils Ranch, and Burr Ranch are prominent features, situated among the high-altitude terrain of Owl Ridge and Owl Mountain. The map reveals the critical importance of water management in this environment through dozens of named man-made watercourses, including the Midland Ditch, Pioneer Ditch, and Ottawa Ditch. These ditches, alongside catchments such as Thirty One Reservoir and Shawver Reservoir, tell the story of a high-mountain agricultural economy dependent on seasonal snowmelt and careful diversion. Topographical landmarks such as Alderdice Draw and the Road Spring offer specific points of interest for those tracking local land usage and geographic changes in the Colorado high country.