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1956 Map of Lake Eleanor

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Lake Eleanor
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

The high Sierra water infrastructure of the late 1950s dominates this landscape, where the Tuolumne River and its forks are harnessed for utility and power. The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Lake Eleanor Reservoir are central features, connected by the subsurface Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct (Tunnel) and supported by the Early Intake Powerhouse. This era represents a peak in the management of the watershed, with the newly mapped Cherry Lake expanding the region's reservoir capacity.

Away from the industrial works, the map documents the transitional settlements between Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park. Historic sites like Hazel Green Ranch and Hodgdon Ranch reflect the area's grazing and homesteading roots, while Mather and Evergreen Lodge mark the growth of seasonal residency. For the local historian, the presence of the Five Star Mine and timber-related sites like Camp 43 provide evidence of the extractive industries that predated the region's focus on water and recreation.