1954 Map of Soda Lake

About this map

Columbia National Wildlife Refuge dominates the landscape of the mid-1950s in this portion of central Washington, where complex water management systems redefine the arid terrain. The map documents the extensive infrastructure of the Columbia Basin Project, including the Potholes Levee, the Potholes Canal, and the Lind Reservoir. These man-made features altered the natural drainage of Crab Creek, creating a chain of water bodies such as Soda Lake, Canal Lake, and Crescent Lake. In the southeast corner, the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad tracks pass through the small settlement of Novara. The topography is characterized by the coulees and rocky depressions typical of the region, with Jackass Mtn rising above the surrounding lakes and numerous scattered windmills indicating the reliance on groundwater for local ranching and agriculture.