1970 Map of Poison Basin

About this map

The Little Snake River defines the southern reach of this landscape along the border of Wyoming and Colorado, where an intricate system of irrigation channels like the Darr Ditch, Heeley Ditch, and Woodbury Ditch support the valley's agriculture. To the north, the terrain rises sharply into the Red Creek Rim, overlooking the expansive Poison Basin. This high desert environment is marked by numerous resource extraction sites, including various mines and scattered gas wells near the Poison Buttes. The water management of the era is evident in the many named stock ponds and catchment basins, such as Paintbrush Res, Long Walk Reservoir, and Adobe Res. This 1970s record shows the balance between traditional ranching infrastructure and the growing industrial footprint of energy exploration in the high plains.