1994 Map of Big Pine

About this map

The Owens Valley landscape of the mid-1990s is defined by the sharp transition from the irrigated valley floor to the steep eastern slopes of the Inyo National Forest. Centered on the settlement of Big Pine, this survey illustrates a unique intersection of traditional land use and high-tech research, where the Big Pine Indian Reservation sits just miles from the massive radio telescopes of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory. The infrastructure of the era is remarkably detailed, tracing the winding path of Big Pine Creek as it feeds the Big Pine Canal and passes landmarks like the County Sanitorium and Inyo Heights High Sch. To the west, the topography rises sharply toward the Warren Bench, while the lowlands near Zurich are marked by extensive water management features, including Klondike Lake and various gaging stations along the Owens River.