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1968 Map of Bitter Creek NW

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Bitter Creek NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

High desert drainage patterns and modern industrial infrastructure intersect in this 1968 survey of the Sweetwater County landscape. The terrain is defined by the ephemeral courses of Tenmile Draw and Deadman Wash, which channel seasonal runoff through the arid basin. Water management is evident in the presence of Tenmile Res No 4 and Tenmile Res No 3, small reservoirs that served the region's ranching or industrial needs during the late 1960s.

Energy extraction and transportation are the dominant human imprints on the land, represented by numerous Drill Hole locations and Oil Wells scattered across the township lines. The southern portion of the map is dominated by the corridor for Interstate 80, accompanied by a series of Pipelines and a lonely Rest Area, illustrating the transition of this remote territory into a vital transit and utility artery during the mid-to-late 20th century.