2016 Map of Prowers

About this map

The Arkansas River defines the central axis of this High Plains landscape, where an intricate network of irrigation and drainage infrastructure transformed the semi-arid terrain of Bent and Prowers Counties. Historical sites like Old Fort Lyons stand near the riverbanks, representing the deep layering of settlement in southeastern Colorado. The map reveals the vital role of water management in this agricultural region, tracing the paths of the Fort Bent Canal, Keesee Canal, and Amity Canal as they divert water to the surrounding fields. Smaller watercourses such as Graveyard Cr and Mud Creek intersect the grid of county roads, while isolated landmarks like The Home Cem and Hight Cem provide essential anchor points for genealogists and local historians. The proximity of the small settlements of Prowers and Able to these water-control features like the McClave Drainage Ditch and Sunflower Ditch illustrates the early 21st-century relationship between town sites and the managed river valley.