2012 Map of Nelson Lake

About this map

Nelson Lake and McLean Lake define the hydrology of this arid San Bernardino County landscape. This 2012 USGS study documents a network of ephemeral washes and desert terrain punctuated by these two distinct basins. The map captures the specialized geography of the Mojave region, where the drainage patterns suggest a collection of dry lake beds or seasonal pans that only occasionally hold water. The lack of permanent structures or developed settlements indicates a largely undisturbed wilderness area, likely part of a protected or restricted desert corridor, where the topography is defined solely by its natural drainage and minimal road infrastructure.