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1955 Map of Imperial Reservoir

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Imperial Reservoir
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Imperial Dam and its complex network of locks and spillways anchor this mid-century survey of the desert borderland. The Colorado River serves as the central artery, carving through the Chocolate Mountains and filling the Imperial Reservoir. This controlled hydraulic landscape supports the Gila Main Canal while sustaining the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, where backwaters like Martinez Lake and Squaw Lake sit in stark contrast to the surrounding arid terrain.

Evidence of the region's transition from pioneer mining to modern military and recreational use is visible throughout. The Castle Dome Landing (Site) marks a former riverboat stop, while the Old Senator Mine points to earlier mineral extraction in the western hills. To the east, the extensive Yuma Test Station signals the mid-20th-century expansion of federal military operations in the Yuma desert, as recreational spots like Fishers Landing begin to appear along the river's edge.