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2015 Map of Wells Ranch

Name: 2015 Topographic Map of Wells Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2015
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2015

About this map

The San Andreas Fault cuts a definitive line across this segment of San Luis Obispo County, creating the striking geological boundary between the Carrizo Plain and the Elkhorn Scarp. This landscape is defined by its tectonic history and the arid basins of the Elkhorn Plain, where drainage is captured by seasonal flows in Abbott Canyon and Sulphur Canyon. The rugged terrain of the Caliente Range dominates the southern half of the map, rising sharply above the desert floor.

Evidence of human habitation and vital water sources are scattered throughout this dry environment, centered around Wells Ranch. Localized springs, such as Semper Spring and Wells Spring, represent the essential lifeblood for ranching operations in this isolated corridor. Travel through the area follows the historic alignments of Soda Lake Rd and Elkhorn Rd, which skirt the edges of the major plains and provide access to the deep cut of Bee Rock Canyon.