1988 Map of Mammoth Wash

About this map

Chocolate Mountains dominate this 1980s landscape, illustrating a restricted desert environment defined by military use and natural drainage patterns. The southern half of the map is marked by the Aerial Gunnery Range, a designation that fundamentally limited civilian development and preserved the arid terrain in its mid-century state. Braided watercourses such as German Diggins Wash and Mammoth Wash cut through the alluvial fans, providing the primary geographical structure for the area. Aside from a few 4wd tracks, the map reveals a notable absence of permanent infrastructure, highlighting the region's role as a specialized military training ground. This survey captures the intersection of natural desert topography and the administrative boundaries of Southern California's defense-related land management during the late twentieth century.