1957 Map of Brawley NW

About this map

Tamarack Ranch and a complex network of desert irrigation define this mid-century landscape in the Imperial Valley. The terrain is bifurcated by the sea-level line, with the western portion dominated by the Naval Reservation and its associated Firing Range, while the eastern portion is heavily engineered for agriculture. This transition from arid, undeveloped land to a structured grid of canals and drains highlights the intensive water management efforts of the 1950s led by Harvey O. Banks and the State of California. Significant water features like the Westside Main Canal, Thistle Canal, and Tokay Drain support the local economy, alongside industrial markers such as Gravel Pits and Grain Tanks. The New River winds through the southern edge, flanked by a series of levees and spoil banks designed to control flow across this low-lying basin.