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2017 Map of Birch Creek Meadow

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

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Birch Creek Meadow and the high-desert drainages of Malheur and Baker counties define this landscape, where early 21st-century cattle ranching and water management remain central to the geography. The map reveals a sophisticated network of upland water sources, including the three-stage system of Kivett Reservoir Number 1, Kivett Reservoir Number 2, and Kivett Reservoir Number 3. These features, alongside named springs like Folkner Spring and Weatherby Spring, underscore the necessity of water control in this arid region.

Transportation corridors like Huntington Rd and Malheur Reservoir Rd follow the natural contours of the land, providing access to landmarks such as Limestone Butte and the rugged series of gulches—from Whisky Gulch in the north to Stone Quarry Gulch in the south. The presence of Stone Quarry Gulch suggests historical mineral extraction, while the numerous named draws like Matthew Gulch and Dry Gulch reflect a long history of local land use and geographic identification by inhabitants of this remote borderland.