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1982 Map of Alvord Lake

Name: 1982 Topographic Map of Alvord Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Steens Mountain and the Pueblo Mountains dominate this high-desert region, where the vast Alvord Desert floor meets the eastern escarpment. The mapping shows a landscape of extremes, from the alkali flats of Alvord Lake to the isolated settlements of Andrews and Fields. The area's ranching and mining history is evident through landmarks such as the Whitehorse Ranch and specialized operations like the Lucky Star Mine, Mogul Mine, and Opalite Mine.

Water management is a central theme in this arid basin, documented by the numerous reservoirs and springs including Skull Creek Reservoir, Oregon End Reservoir, and the geothermal waters of Borax Lake. Transportation in the early 1980s relied on remote landing strips and the Whitehorse Ranch Airfield, alongside topographic features like Catlow Rim and the Pueblo Valley that directed travel and settlement patterns for generations of Harney County residents.