1962 Map of Big Sage Reservoir

About this map

Big Sage Reservoir dominates this high-plateau landscape within the Modoc National Forest, serving as a central hub for water management in the early 1960s. The presence of the Gaging Station Big Sage Dam and numerous peripheral catchments like the Dorris Brothers Reservoir and Raker and Thomas Reservoirs reflects a sophisticated network of upland water storage. To the south, the Devils Garden Airport and the XL Ranch Indian Res provide clear markers of land use and community presence near the northern edge of Alturas. For genealogists and local historians, family-named landmarks like Ingalls Swamp Ranch and springs such as Kelly Spring and Emigrant Spring offer tangible points for tracing early ranching and migration routes through the Modoc territory. The map also records the technical infrastructure of the era, from the Radio Station KCNO to the remote lookout points on Timbered Mountain and North Mountain.