1983 Map of East of Granite Pass

About this map

The Colorado River Aqueduct traverses the arid landscape of the Ward Valley in this 1983 provisional survey, showcasing the massive infrastructure required to move water across the desert. Engineers utilized a complex series of Levee and Dike structures, along with several Siphon points, to manage the flow along the San Bernardino Co Riverside Co boundary. The map captures the intersection of industrial utility and natural landforms, from the Granite Mountains in the south to the alluvial drainage of Sand Draw and Dry Wash. Localized human activity is marked by a Borrow Pit and Sand Pile, likely associated with maintenance of the 4 Rd On Levee that shadows the primary water channel. This document is a clear record of desert land management and water transport technology as it stood in the late 1970s and early 1980s.