2012 Map of Wardel Reservoir

About this map

Wardel Reservoir and the surrounding high plains of Big Horn County are defined by a complex irrigation network essential to Wyoming's arid landscape. This 2012 survey illustrates the vital management of water resources through features like the Fairview Canal, Grout Ditch, and the Sandstone Ditch. These man-made channels divert water across the drainage basins of Dorsey Cr and Elk Cr, supporting livestock and agriculture in an area otherwise marked by seasonal stream beds. The map details the rural infrastructure connecting localized water storage, including Sandstone Reservoir and Jones Reservoir, with a grid of county roads such as Road 16 and Lane 43. This layout reveals how 21st-century ranching and land use in the Bighorn Basin rely on historical water rights and engineered waterways to sustain the region's economy.