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1950 Map of Mouth of Kern

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Mouth of Kern
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The industrial and hydraulic transformation of the San Joaquin Valley is evident in this mid-century survey, which reveals a landscape dominated by resource extraction and water management. The vast Buena Vista Lake Bed occupies the central portion of the map, showing an Old Approximate Shoreline that traces the historical extent of what was once a significant terminal lake. By this era, the basin has been largely repurposed for industrial and agricultural use, featuring a large Reservoir and the California Aqueduquet cutting through the terrain.

Resource extraction is the primary economic driver here, defined by the Naval Petroleum Reserve No 1 and Naval Petroleum Reserve No 2. These federal reserves, along with the South Coles Levee Oil Field, show a dense network of infrastructure including Oil Wells, Oil Tanks, and the Richfield Oil Pumping Station BM 318. The rugged Elk Hills overlook the valley floor, providing a sharp contrast to the engineered flatness of the lake bed and its Irrigation Ditch systems.