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2018 Map of Big Alkali

Name: 2018 Topographic Map of Big Alkali
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2018
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2018

About this map

Geothermal activity and high-altitude basins characterize this portion of Mono County, where Travertine Hot Spring and the Hot Spring emerge in the northern reaches of the quadrangle. The settlement of Willow Springs sits along a transport corridor that bridges the gap between the Bridgeport Valley and the western slopes of the Bodie Hills. This landscape is defined by its transition from open valley floors to the complex drainages of Clark Canyon and Cinnabar Canyon.

Water management and natural meadows are central to the terrain, as seen at Dynamo Pond and the extensive grazing lands of Lower Summers Meadows, Mormon Meadow, and Little Mormon Meadow. The map documents the varied hydrography of the eastern Sierra foothills, including the headwaters of Virginia Creek and Green Creek, alongside the namesake sink of Big Alkali. These features illustrate the vital role of water and geothermal resources in the high desert economy.