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1979 Map of Portola

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Portola
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1993
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1993

About this map

Middle Fork Feather River and the Western Pacific Railroad anchor the upper reaches of this northern Sierra Nevada survey, cutting through the Mohawk Valley toward the rail hub of Portola. The landscape is defined by its transition from the steep, timbered ridges of the Plumas National Forest to the wide, flat floor of the Sierra Valley, where agriculture and timber historically supported towns like Loyalton and Sierraville.

To the west, the rugged canyon of the North Fork Yuba River leads to the mining-era settlements of Downieville and Sierra City, while major water projects such as Lake Davis and Frenchman Lake indicate the mid-century infrastructure developments in the region. Transportation routes are prominent, including the Southern Pacific Railroad skirting the eastern edge near Long Valley and the mountain airfields of Beckwourth Airport and Nervino Airport, reflecting the region's role as a vital corridor between the high peaks and the Nevada border.