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2017 Map of Poison Basin

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Poison Basin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Poison Basin occupies the center of this high-desert landscape on the Wyoming-Colorado border, characterized by a complex network of seasonal water management and distinct landforms. The arid terrain is marked by prominent features like Hangout Ridge and the Red Creek Rim, while the southern portion of the map reveals the vital role of the Little Snake River. An intricate system of named irrigation channels, including Home Ditch, Darr Ditch, and the Woodbury Ditch, underscores the historic effort to harness limited water resources for ranching and agriculture in Carbon County.

Further north, the landscape is dotted with numerous small water catchments such as Dead Tree Reservoir, Gamblers Reservoir, and Spragg Reservoir. These features, along with names like Poison Buttes and Poison Draw, reflect the practical and descriptive naming conventions used by early inhabitants and surveyors to navigate this isolated environment. This map captures the intersection of natural topography and man-made infrastructure in the early 21st century.