1994 Map of Bee Springs Canyon

About this map

Mining operations and water management systems define this mid-1990s landscape along the eastern flank of the Owens Valley. The presence of the Mc Iver Canal and Eclipse Ditch near the Owens River indicates a sophisticated irrigation infrastructure, while the high elevations are marked by a legacy of extraction. Deep in the canyons of the Inyo Mountains, sites like the Black Eagle Mine, Copper Queen Mine, and the Old Whiteside Diggings point to a history of prospecting in a landscape that has since been designated as the Inyo Mountains Wilderness. The transition from industrial use to conservation is evidenced by an Old Railroad Grade running parallel to the valley floor. Higher up, the Winneman Paiute Monument serves as a cultural landmark overlooking Bee Springs Canyon and the surrounding desert peaks.