2011 Map of Butte Spring

About this map

Swedes Place and Swingle Ranch stand as isolated outposts in this high-desert landscape of Washoe County, where water management is the primary marker of human presence. The 2011 survey reveals an intricate network of drainage and catchment systems, notably the Little Hog Ranch Reservoir and Hog John Reservoir, which collect seasonal runoff from the surrounding uplands. These reservoirs, along with numerous named seeps like Bath Tub Spring and Denio Camp Springs, were critical for sustaining livestock in an area where permanent water is scarce. The geography is defined by the branching tributaries of Big Hog Ranch Creek and the dramatic relief of Willow Creek Canyon in the southeast. This map documents a remote ranching frontier where life follows the paths of intermittent streams like Cottonwood Creek and the lone transit route of Lost Creek Rd.