1965 Map of Bard

About this map

The Fort Yuma Indian Reservation dominates this desert landscape where the Colorado River and Gila River converge. By the mid-1960s, the region's agricultural character was firmly established through a complex network of irrigation, including the massive All American Canal and the Main Canal. The settlement of Bard serves as a central hub for the surrounding fields, while the nearby Potholes (Site) and its associated Potholes Cem indicate the location of earlier habitation near the river's edge. This map provides a detailed look at the transition from the arid uplands of Mission Wash and the Three C Mine to the lush, engineered environment of the Gila Valley. To the south, The Island is bounded by the Haughtelin Lake and Bard Lake oxbows, illustrating how the river's historical path shaped land use and school placement at the San Pasqual Valley Sch.