Loading map...

1966 Map of Carter Reservoir

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Carter Reservoir
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The remote high-desert borderlands between California and Nevada are defined here by essential water sources and the stark topography of the Long Valley (Depression). In the mid-1960s, this landscape was dominated by ranching infrastructure, evidenced by numerous Springs and an intricate network of fence lines. Crooks Lake and Carter Reservoir stand as the primary catchments in an otherwise arid basin, while Sand Creek drains the surrounding hills.

Transit through this corner of Washoe Co, Nevada, and Modoc Co, California, relied on a system of unimproved Jeep Trails and unnamed paths, connecting landmarks like Big Spring and Juniper Spring. The presence of these named seeps and springs suggests a landscape where water rights and access were paramount for those working the land. This survey provides a clear view of the geographic isolation and hydrological reliance of the region before more modern developments.