1969 Map of Antelope Butte

About this map

National Reactor Testing Station land occupies the central portion of this high desert landscape, highlighting the mid-century intersection of federal energy research and Idaho's eastern plains. The terrain is defined by low-relief volcanic and alluvial features, including the prominent Antelope Butte in the northwest and numerous shallow depressions scattered across the sagebrush. This late 1960s survey documents a network of irrigation vital to the region's agricultural edges, tracing the paths of the Jefferson Canal, the Crystal Lake Canal, and the Second Owsley Canal. Remote infrastructure such as a solitary Storage Bin and various isolated wells illustrate the logistical demands of managing such a sparse, arid environment. The map provides an exacting record of land use before subsequent developments in the testing station's mission and regional water management.