1956 Map of Thermal Canyon

About this map

The Coachella Valley landscape in the mid-1950s is defined by the critical water infrastructure of the Coachella Canal and an extensive Aqueduct system. This 1:24,000 scale survey, compiled from USBR planetable work and 1953 aerial photography, illustrates the stark contrast between the irrigated valley floor and the arid Little San Bernardino Mts to the north. Industrial activity is concentrated at the canyon mouths, including several Gravel Pits and the Yellow Agit 1 site. The complex topography of the Mecca Hills and numerous drainage systems like Thermal Canyon and Fargo Canyon dominate the eastern half of the sheet, while a network of Pipelines and a prominent Levee near Wasteway No 2 manage the region's hydraulic resources.