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1956 Map of Mendota Dam

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Mendota Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The San Joaquin River defines the central character of this 1956 landscape, where complex water management infrastructure meets industrial agriculture at the boundary of Madera and Fresno counties. The Mendota Dam and the adjacent Mendota Pool serve as a vital hydraulic hub, regulating flows between the Delta-Mendota Canal, the Chowchilla Canal, and the Fresno Slough. This network of canals, including the Aliso Canal and Columbia Canal, reveals the intensive engineering required to sustain the region's large-scale ranching operations.

Prominent agricultural holdings such as New Columbia Ranch, Aliso Ranch, and Pomona Ranch are scattered across the terrain, connected by a sparse road system and an occasional private Landing Strip. South of the river, the town of Mendota appears as the primary settlement, supported by essential utilities like a Sewage Disposal plant and a Reservoir. Evidence of early energy exploration is also visible through several Gas Wells located on the eastern side of the survey area.