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1955 Map of Teal Lake

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Teal Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Routt National Forest dominates the western half of this mid-century survey, where the high-altitude landscape is defined by an intricate network of irrigation engineering. This 1955 survey illustrates the vital role of water management in Jackson County ranching, documenting numerous structures like the Lucky Penny Ditch, Staples Ditch, and Chedsey Ditch that divert water from the South Fork Beaver Creek and its tributaries. These man-made channels support established operations like the Manville Ranch and Geer Ranch on the lower, more level ground to the east.

Local infrastructure for forestry and mountain recreation is centered around the Grizzly Creek Guard Station and the nearby Grizzly Creek Campground. The map also captures the high-country basins of Newcomb Park, as well as several alpine water bodies including Teal Lake, Tiago Lake, and Sawmill Lake. For researchers of the Colorado ranching economy, the placement of the Butler Sch and various family-named ranches provides a clear picture of rural community life during the 1950s.