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1903 Map of Cuyamaca

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Cuyamaca
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1936
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1936

About this map

The San Diego Cuyamaca and Eastern R.R. cuts through the western valleys, serving early settlements like Lakeside, Santee, and El Cajon. This inland territory of San Diego County is defined by its engineering feats and water management, featuring several significant tunnels such as the Cape Horn Tunnel, Monte Tunnel, and Lankersheim Tunnel. The landscape is a complex of high peaks and vital watersheds, anchored by the Cuyamaca Reservoir in the north and the Lower Otay Reservoir in the south.

Tribal lands are established at Capitan Grande Ind. Res. and Sycuan Ind. Res. along the San Diego River and Sweetwater River. To the east, the terrain rises toward Cuyamaca Pk. and Middle Peak, while the international border is marked by Tecate and the Rio Del Tecate. This era of development is characterized by the construction of major infrastructure, including Barrett Dam and Morena Dam, which would forever alter the hydrology of the southern California backcountry.