1956 Map of Mendenhall Springs

About this map

Mendenhall Springs sits at the heart of this mid-century topographic study, which reveals a landscape defined by critical water infrastructure and high-altitude ridges in Alameda County. The industrial presence of the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct is visible as it traverses the terrain, marked by the Hetch Hetchy Shaft. This infrastructure highlights the era's focus on channeling Sierra Nevada water across the Coast Ranges to the burgeoning Bay Area. Small settlements and naming conventions such as Shafer Flat and Rose Flat reflect early mountain ranching and homesteading history. The terrain is dominated by prominent landforms like Crane Ridge and Cedar Mountain, while water bodies including Arroyo Mocho and Arroyo Valle carve deep paths through the foothills of the Valle De San Jose.