1948 Map of Lime Mountain

About this map

Nacimiento Reservoir dominates the northern reaches of this map, its waters backing up into the deep canyons of the Santa Lucia Range. The landscape is defined by the sharp verticality of the terrain, where Lime Mountain stands as a prominent landmark overlooking a network of seasonal drainage systems including Las Tablas Creek and Dip Creek. The settlement of Klau sits in the southeastern corner, reflecting the historic mercury mining district that once thrived in these hills. In the central valleys, Camp Natoma occupies a sheltered position along the creek beds, illustrating the transition from industrial mining roots toward recreational use of the backcountry. Purple revision overlays from the 1970s provide a comparison of changing water levels and infrastructure against the original 1948 topographic survey, showing the evolution of this San Luis Obispo County watershed.