1961 Map of Porter Mountain

About this map

Grand Mesa National Forest and Gunnison National Forest meet at this high-altitude landscape along the border of Mesa and Delta counties. The 1961 field check records a network of water management features and seasonal grazing lands, centered on the high relief of Porter Mountain. Vital water resources are tracked through the McKelvie Reservoir and the Castle Ditch irrigation system, which cuts across the northern slopes near Lowell Flat. The mapping of several Jeep Trails and a Wagon Trail descending into Dead Mare Park illustrates the mid-century transition from traditional livestock grazing to recreational forest use. Prominent topographic landmarks such as Bronco Knob and the Flat Tops define the open, high-country character of the region, while drainage systems like Buzzard Creek and Plateau Creek provide the primary geographic structure for this corner of the Western Slope.