1974 Map of Lake Mathews

About this map

Lake Mathews dominates the northern half of this Riverside County landscape, its irregular shoreline and massive dam structure clearly visible through orthophotographic imaging. The aerial perspective from 1974 reveals the stark contrast between the engineered reservoir and the deeply folded topography of the Temescal Mountains to the south. Dawson Canyon cuts a sharp horizontal line through these hills, leading toward the prominent heights of Estelle Mtn. Below the water line, the map shows a mosaic of agricultural plots and developing road networks, capturing a moment when the region's water infrastructure and natural landforms were being systematically documented by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U. S. Soil Conservation Service.