1958 Map of Blue Basin

About this map

The Independence Mountains dominate this high-altitude landscape of Elko County, Nevada, where complex drainage systems define the high desert terrain. Water resources are the primary features of interest, with numerous unnamed Springs dotting the slopes and feeding a network of named waterways including Chicken Creek, South Field Creek, and Lake Creek. These drainages often converge into larger systems like Hereford Field Maggie Creek, which winds through the western portion of the sheet. Evidence of ranching and land use is clear through the identification of specific grazing or water-rights areas such as Basco Field and Taylor Field Creek. The map is a detailed record of the mid-20th-century cattle country, marked by a system of Jeep Trails and survey markers like Vabm 7557. In the south, Blue Basin Creek flows through the area that gives the quadrangle its name, providing a focused look at the hydrology of the Great Basin during this era.