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1956 Map of Calipatria SW

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Calipatria SW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Obsidian Butte stands as a distinct geological landmark on the edge of the Salton Sea, an area that by the mid-1950s was deeply defined by the complex water management systems of the Imperial Valley. This landscape is dominated by an intricate grid of irrigation infrastructure, including the Vail Canal and an extensive network of Trifolium Laterals, such as Trifolium Lateral 1 through Trifolium Lateral 19. These features reflect the massive agricultural transformation of the desert floor.

Industrial and residential development is concentrated around Westmorland and Vail Ranch, while the northern portion of the map covers the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. The presence of the New River and various drainage channels like the Thompson Drain illustrate the ongoing effort to manage the runoff and salinity levels of this unique below-sea-level basin. The Trifolium Extension and scattered benchmarks provide precise points for tracing the road and surveying history of this reclaimed desert region.