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2012 Map of Merced Falls

Name: 2012 Topographic Map of Merced Falls
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2012
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2012

About this map

Merced Falls serves as the focal point of this Merced County landscape, situated where the Merced River is harnessed for local water management and hydroelectric power. The terrain is characterized by the significant water storage of Lake McClure to the northeast and the smaller Kelsey Reservoir to the west. This 2012 survey illustrates the modern water infrastructure of the Sierra Nevada foothills, where the river's flow is regulated and channeled through the valley.

Named landmarks like Cemetery Hill, Cemetery Ridge, and Bullion Hill suggest the deeper cultural and mining history of the region. Transportation routes such as Hornitos Rd and Exchequer Dam Rd connect the settlement to the surrounding rugged foothills. Drainage systems including Dry Cr and its S Fork carve through the landscape towards Table Mountain, defining the local topography between the river valley and the rising elevations.