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1954 Map of Pine River

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Pine River
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Navajo Reservoir dominates this landscape at the confluence of the San Juan River and the Los Pinos River. This 1954 survey, updated with 1971 revisions, documents the engineering and hydrologic transformation following the construction of Navajo Dam. The map captures a moment when industrial infrastructure and the natural topography of the High Desert converge, showing the expansion of pipelines and numerous gas wells across the high plateaus.

Evidence of historical movement and drainage is preserved in the deeply incised canyons, including Dick Earl Canyon and Gobernador Canyon, which flank the central waterway. While Navajo City serves as a small anchor for human activity, much of the terrain remains focused on resource extraction and water management, with landmarks like Smith Pass and Negro Andy Canyon providing navigational points across the rugged San Juan Basin topography.