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2015 Map of Big Mountain

Name: 2015 Topographic Map of Big Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2015
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2015

About this map

Sheep Creek Rnch anchors the northern reaches of this high-desert landscape in Humboldt County, where water is the primary architect of human and animal activity. Numerous scattered springs, including Running Water Spring, Mustang Springs, and Opal Spring, provide vital life-sustaining points across a terrain defined by the Black Rock Range and the edge of the Black Rock Desert. This 2015 survey reveals a pattern of ranching and movement tied to these reliable water sources and topographical landmarks like Big Mtn and Little Big Mtn.

Surface water is managed through features such as the Bawling Calf Reservoir, while deep drainages like Copper Canyon and Paiute Cr channel seasonal flows. The map illustrates the fundamental desert geography where named springs like Mahogany Spring and Trough Spring were likely critical waypoints for early travelers and contemporary land users alike, marking the thin margins of habitability in this corner of Nevada.