1968 Map of Chief Joseph Dam

About this map

The Chief Joseph Dam anchors this late-1960s survey, marking a significant engineering presence on the Columbia River at the junction of Okanogan and Douglas counties. The map documents the impounded waters of Rufus Woods Lake and the nearby Gaging Station, illustrating the mid-century transformation of the river corridor. South of the dam, the landscape transitions into the high plateau country of Dyer Hill and the expansive Sourdough Flats. Small, named water bodies like McClain Lake and Rudd Lake provide critical water points in an otherwise arid environment defined by numerous draws, including Smith Draw and Chapman Draw. The boundary of the Colville Indian Reservation runs along the river’s north bank, while the land to the south is characterized by local landmarks like Sharyer Spring and several gravel and borrow pits, indicating the area's agricultural and industrial utility.