2023 Map of Big Mud Flat

About this map

Big Mud Flat and the surrounding high desert of Malheur County are defined by a complex network of water management features essential to this arid region. The landscape is dotted with several family-named and geographic impoundments, including the Little Mud Flat Reservoir, Knottingham Reservoir, Harry Page Reservoir, and David Kent Reservoir. These water sources, along with natural features like Whiskey Springs and Willow Springs, suggest a history of ranching and livestock management in a territory where water is the primary currency. To the east, the terrain breaks sharply at the Owyhee Breaks, while the south is characterized by the deep incisions of Black Canyon and Juniper Canyon. Simple dirt tracks like Mud Flat Rd and Turner Rd provide the only access through this remote portion of southeastern Oregon, connecting the high basins like Wrangle Basin to the broader flats.