1954 Map of Glamis SE

About this map

The Coachella Canal cuts a stark, engineered line through the arid landscape of Imperial County in the mid-1950s, flanked by a protective Levee. This critical water infrastructure, which was surveyed by the USBR in the late 1930s, enabled the agricultural expansion of the region. The map highlights the intersection of military and natural geography, as the Naval Reservation Boundary encompasses a significant portion of the Sand Hills and the Impact Range to the north. South of the canal, the shifting topography of Sand Dunes gives way to the relatively flat expanse of the East Mesa. A single named crossing, Coachella Bridge No 1, provides one of the few fixed points of reference in this desolate environment, where the terrain is characterized by extensive dune fields and sparse benchmarks.