2017 Map of Buck Trough Spring

About this map

The Malheur National Forest provides the setting for this high-desert landscape in eastern Oregon, where water management is the primary driver of human modification. The terrain is defined by the headwaters and drainage basins of the North Fork Malheur River and the Little Malheur River, which have carved deep features such as Rattlesnake Canyon and Tin Wagon Canyon. To sustain livestock and wildlife in this arid environment, a series of man-made impoundments and spring developments are scattered across the quadrangle, including the Sixtynine Reservoir, Chalk Reservoir, and Skagway Reservoir. Higher elevations are marked by landmarks like Rattlesnake Ridge, while lower drainage areas include the winding Cottonwood Cr and Tamarack Cr, highlighting the vital nature of water sources like Buck Trough Spring and Mahogany Spring in the regional ecosystem.