1981 Map of Chicken Spring

About this map

The Sherman Field area at the high-desert border of Harney and Malheur counties is defined by a complex network of intermittent drainages and critical water management features. At the time of this 1974-1976 field check, the landscape was marked by numerous named reservoirs including Rough Hole Reservoir, South Willow Res, and Disaster Peak Reservoir, which supported ranching operations in this arid region. The drainage systems of McDermitt Creek and the North Fork McDermitt Creek carve through the terrain, while the Willow Creek and Trout Creek systems dictate the local topography. This survey captures a moment when 4WD tracks were the primary means of navigating the expansive gaps between named springs and water catchments like Funny Face Reservoir and Tadpole Spring Reservoir.