1944 Map of Merced Falls

About this map

Merced Falls and Snelling anchor the southern landscape along the Merced River, where dredging operations are evidenced by extensive Tailings deposits left in the river's wake. This 1942 survey captures the central California foothills during a period defined by massive water management projects and a declining but still visible mining industry. The map tracks the northern reaches of Lake McClure and the Don Pedro Reservoir on the Tuolumne River, illustrating how these reservoirs reshaped the terrain around Exchequer and La Grange.