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1968 Map of Welches Canyon

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Welches Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

The high desert terrain of the Tuscarora Mountains dominates this 1960s landscape, where drainage patterns define the sparse human footprint. In the north, Richmond Mountain and Richmond Summit overlook a series of small-scale mining operations, including a marked mine and various prospects that suggest the region's enduring mineral interest.

Water is the critical resource here, with numerous springs feeding drainages like Welches Creek as they flow toward the broad Boulder Valley. In the southern reaches, the topography transitions toward Marys Mtn, with Soap Creek and James Creek cutting through the arid slopes. The network of jeep trails and fence lines shown suggests a land primarily used for open-range ranching and prospecting during the mid-20th century.