1988 Map of Topaz Lake

About this map

Topaz Lake dominates this high-desert landscape along the border of Nevada and California, serving as a focal point for water management and recreation in the late 20th century. The map details a complex network of agricultural irrigation in the Antelope Valley, where the Wiley Ditch, Swager Ditch, and Alkali Ditch divert water toward the West Slough. These man-made features contrast with the steep, mining-scarred terrain of the Toiyabe National Forest to the west. Evidence of the region’s mineral history is visible at the Willard-McDonald Mine and the Leviathan Lookout atop Leviathan Peak. For genealogists and local historians, the inclusion of named locations like Virgil Connell Spring and Company Meadows provides specific geographic markers of early land use and family-named landmarks. The historic Von Schmidt Boundary also appears, marking the legacy of 19th-century surveying disputes between the two states.