1971 Map of Blitzen SW

About this map

Catlow Valley dominates this 1970s landscape, revealing the stark topography of a Great Basin interior drainage system. The map documents the intricate path of Guano Slough as it winds through the basin floor, a feature that highlights the intermittent water patterns characteristic of the high desert. The survey captures the region prior to significant modern land-use changes, preserving the original township and range delineations like T. 34 S. and T. 35 S. which were foundational to the settlement and grazing history of Harney County. The precise five-foot contour intervals detail the subtle shifts in elevation across the depression, providing a clear record of the area's natural drainage before contemporary environmental shifts.