2021 Map of Union Wash

About this map

Manzanar and the surrounding Inyo County landscape are defined by the complex water infrastructure of the Owens Valley. This survey captures the massive industrial footprint of the Los Angeles Aqueduct as it cuts across the high desert, paralleling the original course of the Owens River. The settlement pattern follows older transit lines, including the Owenyo Lone Pine Rd and the Lone Pine Narrow Gauge Rd, which hint at the region’s historical dependence on rail and road for transport between the Inyo Mountains and the Alabama Hills. To the north, the small outpost of Reward sits near the mouth of Eclipse Canyon, while the intricate network of the McIver Canal and Stevens Canal reflects the ongoing efforts to manage the arid terrain. From the high peaks of the White-Inyo Range to the marshy grounds near Reinhackle Spring, the map documents a terrain where natural hydrology and human engineering are inextricably linked.