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1951 Map of Haiwee Reservoir

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Haiwee Reservoir
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Haiwee Reservoir and the Los Angeles Aqueduct dominate the western portion of this 1951 landscape, illustrating the critical water infrastructure linking the Owens Valley to the coast. The Southern Pacific railroad parallels the highway, serving small outposts and ranching operations like Dunmovin and Tunawee Ranch. To the east, the terrain shifts into the volcanic and high-desert features of the Naval Reservation, where geothermal activity is evident at Coso Hot Springs and Devils Kitchen.

Resource extraction and ancient history are both visible across the flats and canyons. Small-scale mining operations including the Beebe Mine and McCloud Mine are scattered across Cactus Flat, while the presence of Indian Petroglyphs near Thorndyke Canyon points to long-standing human activity in this arid environment. The map captures a moment of mid-century desert life, from the Haiwee Powerhouse to the isolated Landing Strip at Coso Junction.