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1982 Map of Blue Mountain Basin

Name: 1982 Topographic Map of Blue Mountain Basin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Blue Mountain Basin defines this high-desert landscape in Malheur County, where water management is the central story of human activity. This provisional study, compiled from 1970s aerial photography, documents a complex network of small catchments and livestock water sources scattered across the Oregon Canyon Mountains. Named features like Echave Reservoir and Achabal Spring reflect the region's ranching heritage and family-named landmarks.

The presence of a Buried Water Pipe Line and several instances of a Ditch cutting through the terrain towards reservoirs such as Diversion Ditch Reservoir illustrate the effort required to harness seasonal runoff. From the height of Twelvemile Summit down to the various basins, the map provides a look at the infrastructure of the open range, including the Blue Mountain Basin Reservoir No 2 and the isolated Dinky Reservoir.