1988 Map of Cottonwood Basin

About this map

Cottonwood Mountains and the Little San Bernardino Mountains dominate this arid landscape, where the Colorado River Aqueduct and Colorado River Tunnel trace a vital path through the desert. This 1980s-era record of the Coachella Valley's eastern periphery captures the infrastructure required to sustain life and travel in the region, including the Cactus City Rest Area, Sewage Disposal Ponds, and various pipelines. To the north, the protected land of the Joshua Tree National Monument Wilderness meets the Cottonwood Basin, while the southern terrain transitions into the deeply eroded topography of Painted Canyon and the Mecca Hills. The map clearly illustrates the convergence of drainage systems like Pinkham Wash into the broad expanse of Shavers Valley, reflecting the complex hydrology of the Colorado Desert.