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1966 Map of La Panza NE

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of La Panza NE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The San Andreas Rift Zone creates a distinct linear scar across this mid-1960s landscape, separating the high peaks of the Temblor Range from the broad expanse of the Carrizo Plain. This rugged section of the California Coast Ranges shows a sparse network of ranching infrastructure, where water sources like Pinole Spring, Jenks Spring, and Mustang Spring dictate the patterns of human activity. The boundary between Kern and San Luis Obispo counties cuts through these canyons, reflecting the geographic isolation of the region at the time of the survey.

Infrastructure is limited to essential rural facilities, including the Pinole Ranch and the Carrizo Plain Substation. Transportation across the basin relies on the unpaved Simmler Road and Bitterwater Road, while the San Juan Grade provides passage through the southern hills. Numerous storage bins and wells dot the drainage of Bitterwater Creek, highlighting the importance of dryland management in this arid environment.