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2021 Map of Granite Reef Dam

Name: 2021 Topographic Map of Granite Reef Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2021
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2021

About this map

Mt McDowell stands as a prominent landmark in this desert landscape, overlooking the confluence of the Verde River and the Salt River. The region is defined by significant hydraulic engineering, including the Granite Reef Dam and the Arizona Canal, which divert water to the expanding communities of the Salt River Valley. To the west, the residential growth of Fountain Hills is evident in the dense network of streets like E Palisades Blvd and E Shea Blvd that push toward the slopes of Apache Peak.

Modern infrastructure is represented by the Central Arizona Project Aqueduct, which cuts across the terrain near McDowell Pass. Much of the eastern portion of the map is protected within the Tonto National Forest, preserving landforms such as Coon Bluff and Schlechts Butte. This survey highlights the contrast between the organized suburban expansion of Mesa and the preserved desert reaches of the northern valley.