1985 Map of Smith Valley

About this map

The Wassuk Range and Pine Nut Mountains dominate this 1985 mid-century landscape where the agricultural valleys of western Nevada meet the high Sierra Nevada. In the western reaches, Lake Tahoe defines the shoreline near South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, while the East Fork Carson River and West Fork Carson River irrigate the productive ranching lands around Minden and Gardnerville. The map documents a complex mix of land uses, from the Washoe Indian Res to the mineral-rich slopes containing the Leviathan Mine and the Blue Danub Mine. Resource management is evident through the Lahontan National Fish Hatchery and the protected lands of the Toiyabe National Forest. The transition from the high peaks like Freel Peak to the basin floors of Antelope Valley and Smith Valley illustrates the region's diverse hydrology, punctuated by the Artesia Lake state wildlife area and the engineering of the Kinney Reservoir.