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1965 Map of Point Creek

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Point Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Grand Mesa landscape dominates this mid-1960s survey, where the high elevations of the Grand Mesa National Forest descend into the river valleys of Delta County. The southern edge of the map follows the winding course of the Gunnison River, shadowed by the tracks of the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad. This corridor served as a vital artery for transport through the western slope, connecting the agricultural interests and ranching outposts found throughout the canyon lands.

Water management is central to the area's development, evidenced by irrigation infrastructure like the Hartland Ditch and the Lone Star Ditch. Settlements are sparse, with the Star Nelson Ranch representing the type of isolated homesteads that defined this terrain. Notable drainage systems like Wells Gulch, Point Creek, and Alkali Creek carve through the topography, feeding into the Alkali Reservoir and eventually reaching the river below.