2018 Map of East Elk Hills

About this map

Elk Hills dominates this portion of the San Joaquin Valley, showing the stark contrast between the complex topography of the oil-producing hills and the highly engineered agricultural landscape of the Central Valley floor. A sophisticated network of water management features, including the Governor Edmund G Brown California Aqueduct, W Side Canal, and E Side Canal, illustrates the scale of irrigation required for regional ranching. The presence of smaller localized infrastructure like Deep Wells Ditch, Weed Island Ditch, and Eightyfoot Ditch speaks to early 20th-century water claims and land development patterns. On the northern periphery, the Elk Hills-Buttonwillow Airport serves as a modern waypoint, while the southern reaches descend into Midway Valley, a traditional gateway to the neighboring oil fields.