2012 Map of Mammoth Wash

About this map

Mammoth Wash defines the drainage patterns across this arid portion of Imperial County, carving a wide path as it flows through the southeastern California desert. This 2012 topographic record documents the complex network of ephemeral stream beds and desert washes that characterize the landscape, illustrating how water travels through this dry environment during rare precipitation events. To the northwest, German Diggins Wash joins the system, its name hinting at the historical mining activity and prospecting that once occurred in these remote desert reaches. The intricate contour lines provided by the U.S. Geological Survey allow for a detailed reading of the subtle elevation changes and geological formations that guide these seasonal waterways through the Colorado Desert.