1969 Map of Thornburgh Gulch

About this map

The Little Snake River winds through the northern reaches of this Northwest Colorado landscape, where a sophisticated network of irrigation channels supported early ranching and agriculture. Named water-management features like the Woodbury Ditch, Towel Ditch, Gibson Ditch, and Blair Ditch demonstrate the essential role of water rights in this arid environment. The map captures a moment when the land was defined by its drainages and springs, such as Thornburgh Spring and Monasco Spring.