1968 Map of Coolidge Dam

About this map

Coolidge Dam serves as the focal point of this arid landscape, holding back the San Carlos Reservoir within the San Carlos Indian Reservation. The 1968 survey data shows the Gila River winding through deep canyons south of the dam, passing through a terrain defined by named water sources essential to desert life, such as Warm Spring, Blue Mountain Spring, and Stockton Well. The presence of several prospect markings and ruins suggests a history of mineral exploration and early habitation in the shadow of the Hayes Mountains. The map documents a complex network of pack trails and jeep tracks connecting remote locations like Poverty Flat and Standing Rock Catchment Basin, reflecting the logistical challenges of land management and ranching in the Gila and Pinal county borderlands during the late 1960s.