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1959 Map of Twitchell Dam

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Twitchell Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The Twitchell Dam and its resulting Twitchell Reservoir dominate this 1959 survey of the rugged California coastal range. Located at the confluence where the Cuyama River meets the Santa Maria River, the dam represents a significant mid-century hydrological project by the Bureau of Reclamation. The map captures the complex terrain of the Sierra Madre Mountains to the east, including Las Coches Mtn and the steep drainages of Coches Canyon.

Downstream in the Santa Maria Valley, the landscape shifts toward agriculture and extraction. Land grants and ranching history are evident in the sprawling Suey and Tepusquet areas. Small rural settlements like Garey and Fulger Point anchor the valley floor near the Sisquoc River, while numerous oil wells and irrigation infrastructure trace the industrial development of the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo county line.