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1958 Map of Orocopia Canyon

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Orocopia Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Orocopia Mountains dominate this arid landscape, characterized by the dramatic relief of the Orocopia Canyon and the desert floor's transition toward the Chocolate Mountain range. Human intervention in this environment is clearly marked by the infrastructure of the Coachella Canal, which cuts across the southern portion of the sheet. The engineering of this waterway is underscored by numerous technical features including a Levee, Dike, and several Siphons.

Water sources in this harsh terrain provide critical orientation points, most notably Dos Palmas Spring and several unnamed seeps. These locations appear to have supported small-scale activity, evidenced by the presence of Graves nearby. The eastern boundary is defined by the Aerial Gunnery Range, signaling a military presence in the mid-century desert. Historical access is traced via the Palmas Spring Road, which serves as the primary artery through the basin.