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1960 Map of Volta

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Volta
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Water management and transit dominate the landscape of the San Joaquin Valley in this 1960s study. The Southern Pacific railroad line cuts diagonally through the small settlement of Volta, which sits adjacent to a sprawling network of irrigation infrastructure including the Delta Mendota Canal, Outside Canal, and Main Canal. These canals represent the massive mid-century engineering efforts of the State of California Department of Water Resources and the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation to transform the arid valley into productive farmland.

To the north, the San Luis Holding Reservoir and designated Duck Ponds illustrate the coexistence of water storage and wildlife habitat. The topography shifts dramatically in the southwest, where the valley floor gives way to the rising slopes of Billie Wright Canyon. Local social history is noted by the Los Banos Odd Fellows Grove, while the Los Banos Fire Control Station marks the community's early public safety infrastructure.