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1963 Map of Wallace Ranch

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Wallace Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Dolores River carves a deep path through the high plateau of the San Juan National Forest in this early 1960s survey. This portion of Montezuma County is characterized by its complex network of water management, illustrated by the numerous small reservoirs such as Greenlee Reservoir, Haycamp Reservoir, and Barnard Reservoir that dot the mesa tops and canyon draws. The landscape is a mix of rugged natural drainages like Priest Gulch and Ox Shoe Gulch contrasted with the developed livestock infrastructure of the Wallace Ranch and Circle K Ranch.

Transport through this terrain relies on established routes like the Highline Driveway and specialized paths such as the Siphon Spring Trail and Pipe Creek Trail. The map meticulously labels various water sources essential for high-country life, including Calico Spring, Drift Fence Spring, and Twin Fir Spring. The presence of named features like Morgan Reservoir and Copinger Reservoir suggests the long-term presence of local ranching families managing these public lands.