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2020 Map of Thorp

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Thorp
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

The Yakima River snakes through the heart of the Kittitas Valley in this detailed survey of the area surrounding Thorp. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of irrigation infrastructure essential to the region's agricultural identity, including the North Branch Canal, W-Side Canal, and Town Canal. These man-made waterways contrast with the deeply etched natural drainage of the western uplands, where features like Rattlesnake Canyon, Winegar Canyon, and Ainsley Canyon cut through the high ground of Thorp Prairie.

For researchers, the map provides a clear view of local infrastructure and land use, from the Thorp Cem on the valley floor to the expansive Palouse To Cascades State Park Trail following the former railroad grade. The proximity of the Ellensburg Power Canal and the Cascade Canal highlights the technological efforts to harness the river's flow for both power and irrigation, a legacy that shaped the development of modern Kittitas County.