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1985 Map of Cadiz Valley SE

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Cadiz Valley SE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Coxcomb Mountains dominate the southwestern quadrant of this arid landscape, bordering the protected expanses of Joshua Tree National Monument and the Joshua Tree Wilderness. The terrain is defined by the stark contrast between these sharp peaks and the broad floor of Cadiz Valley, where an intricate network of drainage patterns flows toward the center of the basin. The most significant human modification is the massive Colorado River Aqueduct, which skirts the eastern edge of the mountains, utilizing specialized engineering including multiple Inverted Siphons and the Iron Portal to navigate the topography.

Industrial activity is evident near the Iron Portal at the base of the Coxcomb Mountains, where Tailings indicate mining operations. A series of levees, such as 3 Rd on Levee, line the aqueduct corridor, protecting this critical water infrastructure from the desert's flash flood cycles. The map also records the boundary between San Bernardino and Riverside counties, cutting directly through the valley floor and across the mountain range.