1971 Map of Acty Mountain NW

About this map

Shallow Lake and a series of livestock reservoirs dominate this 1971 landscape in Harney County, illustrating the essential water management required in this high-elevation basin. The distribution of Butch Reservoir, Gaston Reservoir, Swede Reservoir, and Shelby Reservoir suggests a managed rangeland economy where seasonal runoff is captured for use across the wide expanses of Butcher Flat. These man-made features are vital landmarks in a terrain characterized by subtle elevation shifts and the prominent rise of Bald Mountain to the south. The survey, conducted via photogrammetric methods, reveals the spatial logic of the Great Basin's eastern fringes, where the placement of water sources dictated the patterns of ranching and movement before more modern infrastructure arrived.