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2017 Map of Balls Lake

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Balls Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Balls Lake serves as the central focal point of this arid high-desert landscape in Harney County, Oregon. The terrain is defined by a sophisticated system of water management, evidenced by numerous named catchments such as Pickett Spring Reservoir, Hartman Reservoir, and Terry Reservoir. These features, alongside specialized sites like Orejana Waterhole and Cabin Waterhole, suggest a landscape deeply tied to livestock ranching and the seasonal movement of water across the rimrock and basins.

Natural drainage patterns have carved significant depressions into the plateau, including Loggerhead Canyon, Augustine Canyon, and Rose Brier Canyon. Historical access through this remote area is documented via the Foster Lake CCC Rd, a reference to the Civilian Conservation Corps' influence on the regional infrastructure. From the prominent Orejana Rim to the curious marshy designation at Lake in the Brush, the map reveals how humans have adapted to the high-elevation challenges of the Oregon desert.