2015 Map of Big Sage Reservoir

About this map

Modoc National Forest encompasses the high desert and volcanic plateau terrain of this 2015 survey, dominated by the expansive Big Sage Reservoir. The landscape is defined by a network of water management features, including the Upper Cummings Reservoir, Lower Cummings Reservoir, and the smaller Kelley Reservoir situated in the central basin. These water bodies are vital in this arid region, where prominent geographic markers such as Whittemore Ridge and Porcupine Rim rise above the flats. The map details a remote infrastructure of forest roads like Co Road 74 and the Big Sage Reservoir road, which navigate the dramatic elevation changes of Porcupine Valley and Salisbury Gulch. Geologic and topographic points of interest, such as Mill Spring and the Barnes Grade, offer insight into the historical and ongoing management of these public lands in northeastern California.