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1958 Map of Orocopia Canyon

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Orocopia Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Orocopia Mountains dominate this 1958 survey, showing the arid Riverside County landscape at the edge of the Salton Sink. The topography is defined by the stark Orocopia ridges and the deep Canyon floor, where the environment is dictated by scarce water sources. At the southern base of the range, the Coachella Canal introduces a linear human-made boundary, complete with a supporting Levee and Dike system designed to manage water flow across the desert floor.

Dos Palmas Spring and various other unnamed springs and Seeps represent the vital natural water points that historically sustained travelers and local wildlife. Traces of human presence are sparse, noted primarily by the Graves site near the canal and the nearby Dos Palmas Spring Road. The southeastern corner of the map marks the edge of the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, signifying the region's mid-century military utility.