2012 Map of Button Lake

About this map

Button Lake and the drainage patterns of northern Nevada define this high-desert basin near the turn of the 21st century. The landscape is characterized by intermittent water sources and the low-relief geography typical of the Great Basin region. Further west, Evans Lake occupies a small depression, while the seasonal flow of Lake Creek winds through the southern portion of the quadrangle. This 2012 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey provides a precise record of the hydrologic features in an area where water is the primary determinant of land use and environmental character. The map offers researchers a clear view of the natural water distribution before modern climatic shifts or human interventions might alter these sensitive desert lakebeds.