1967 Map of Lake Mathews

About this map

Lake Mathews dominates the northern half of this landscape, its waters contained by the Mathews Dam and linked to the massive Colorado River Aqueduct system. The map reveals a land of transition between engineered water infrastructure and preserved wilderness, with the Cleveland National Forest and Gavilan Plateau providing a stark contrast to the development near Cajalco Road. Local history is prominent through specific markers such as the Site of the First House in Riverside County and an Indian Pictographs Historical Marker located near Temescal Wash. The southern terrain is defined by prominent peaks like Estelle Mtn and Gavilan Peak, while the local economy is represented by the Cajalco Tin Mine and the resort character of Glen Ivy Hot Springs. This 1967 survey, updated with 1980s revisions, illustrates the complex intersection of early California history and mid-century water management.