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1963 Map of Warren Peak

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Warren Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Modoc National Forest dominates the high-altitude terrain of the Warner Mountains in the early 1960s, where prominent summits like Warren Peak and Squaw Peak overlook a landscape carved by numerous drainage systems. This environment is defined by its water resources, with high-mountain catchments such as Patterson Lake, Cottonwood Lake, and Linderman Lake feeding the complex network of creeks that flow eastward toward the arid Surprise Valley. The map documents the human footprint in this remote region through established camps like Pepperdine Camp and isolated outposts such as Tom Smith Cabin.

A stark transition occurs along the eastern edge of the mountains, where the steep terrain gives way to the flat expanse of the valley floor. Here, the economy and survival of early settlements like Overton are illustrated through a reliance on groundwater and irrigation, evidenced by several flowing wells, a Flume, and an Aqueduct near Middle Alkali Lake. This infrastructure highlights the intensive effort required to manage water in the high desert of Modoc County.