Loading map...

1967 Map of South Fork East

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of South Fork East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1992
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1992

About this map

South Fork serves as the focal point of this late 1960s study, situated where the Rio Grande winds through the high valley floors of the Rio Grande National Forest. The landscape is a study in early water management and high-altitude ranching, evidenced by an intricate network of irrigation channels including the Meadow Ditch, Anaconda Ditch, and Highline Ditch. These man-made watercourses reflect the efforts to sustain agriculture in the arid environment between the peaks.

Local life is anchored at the Holy Family Mission and the small settlements of Gerrard and Alpine, while family history is marked by a small Cem near Agua Ramon Mountain. Significant river crossings and landmarks like Granger Bridge, the Long Barn, and several benchmark locations provide precise points of reference for researchers tracing the historical geography of this section of the San Luis Valley.