1954 Map of Midway Well

About this map

The All American Canal cuts a straight, industrial line through the shifting topography of the Imperial Valley, defining the landscape between the Mesa and the border. This mid-century survey illustrates the intensive water management efforts of the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, featuring infrastructure like Power Drop No 4 and a series of Gaging Stations along the levee. Just north of the international boundary, the map records Experimental Farm No 1 and Experimental Farm No 2, appearing as isolated outposts of irrigation research amid the expansive Sand Dunes. The presence of Midway Well and various Jeep Trails provides evidence of the sparse desert transit and habitation patterns during the 1950s. This survey, compiled from aerial photography and planetable work, captures the stark interface between desert wildness and the mechanical precision of California's southern water infrastructure.