2015 Map of Laurel

About this map

The Santa Cruz Mountains and the trace of the San Andreas Fault define the complex topography of this 2015 study, where deep ravines like Caldwell Gulch and Ashbury Gulch cut through the landscape. The area shows a history of transit and settlement, anchored by the community of Laurel and the historic Tunnel Number 2, alongside the campus of Bethany Univ in Scotts Valley. Water management is prominent in the northern section, evidenced by the Williams Reservoir and Lake Elsman. Moving south toward Santa Cruz, the drainage network of Soquel Cr and Branciforte Cr shapes the residential patterns of Redwood Lodge and The Willows. This modern survey records the persistence of mountain communities and recreational spaces like the Soquel Demo Forest amidst the geologic fractures of the Coast Ranges.