2011 Map of Bluejoint Lake West

About this map

Bluejoint Lake dominates the eastern basin of this high desert landscape in Harney County, illustrating the seasonal and ephemeral nature of Oregon's Great Basin hydrology. The map centers on the Bluejoint Ranch and a network of unimproved roads that trace the contours of a sparsely populated ranching interior. To the south and west, the terrain is punctuated by smaller water bodies like Turpin Lake and Stone Corral Lake, which occupy the low points of the scrubland. This 2011 survey captures the area before modern shifts in land use, showing the relationship between isolated ranching infrastructure and the prominent rise of Poker Jim Ridge to the southeast. The survey provides a clear view of the land as it remained defined by traditional grazing boundaries and the natural catchment of the high desert basins.