2016 Map of Valdez D-8 SW

About this map

Nelchina Bench Lake sits at the northern edge of this high-elevation Alaskan terrain, where the landscape is defined by its drainage systems and administrative boundaries. The map document traces the divide between the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the Valdez-Cordova Census Area, a line that cuts vertically through the complex topography of the Nelchina area. Steep-sided valleys are carved by the southern-flowing Barnette Cr and the eastward-draining Bottley Cr, illustrating the rugged catchment areas that characterize the Copper River Basin's periphery. This 2016 survey provides a precise look at the glacial and fluvial landforms before any significant modern infrastructure development, preserving the primitive hydrology of these high-country streams.