1956 Map of Winchester SE

About this map

Winchester Wasteway cuts a distinct path through this central Washington landscape, representing the critical water management infrastructure developed in the mid-1950s. The terrain is characterized by expansive fields of Sand Dunes, particularly concentrated in the southern portions of the quadrangle. These shifting sands reflect the arid, wind-sculpted environment of the Columbia Basin before modern irrigation fully transformed the surface. The small settlement of McEwen and the established Morrison Road provide evidence of early rural development in the region. This survey, which utilized USBR planetable data from the late 1930s alongside mid-century aerial photography, documents the area just as the Bureau of Reclamation's projects began to leave a permanent mark on the local hydrology and geography.