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1988 Map of Tortolita Mountains

Name: 1988 Topographic Map of Tortolita Mountains
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

The Tortolita Mountains define this high-desert landscape as it was documented in the late 1980s. A intricate network of drainage systems, including Guild Wash, Parker Canyon Wash, and Indian Town Wash, illustrates the watershed pattern along the Falcon Divide. This survey is particularly useful for identifying vital water sources in an arid climate, marking Cottonwood Spring, Bass Spring, and Cochie Spring, which were essential for both local livestock and travelers.

Evidence of human activity and infrastructure is scattered throughout the terrain, from the Owl Head Buttes in the northwest to the county line between Pinal and Pima. The map details early water-management features like Ogle Well, Biddle Windmill, and Grow Windmill, alongside several unnamed mine shafts. These elements, combined with numerous 4WD trails and a network of power lines, reflect the region's late-century balance of land use and resource extraction.