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1999 Map of Cottonwood Reservoir

Name: 1999 Topographic Map of Cottonwood Reservoir
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2002
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2002

About this map

Cottonwood Reservoir and the adjacent Squaw Creek Reservoir anchor this late 20th-century landscape in Harney County, illustrating the vital water management infrastructure of the Oregon high desert. The northern portion of the map is defined by the boundary of the Malheur National Forest, where the terrain transitions into a series of springs and seasonal drainages including Antelope Spring, Squaw Creek Spring, and the curiously named Dipping Vat Spring.

Evidence of rural land use is scattered throughout the drainages of Squaw Creek and Jackson Creek, featuring a Landing Strip in the south and various Check Dams designed to manage runoff. The presence of Prospects and a Gravel Pit near Otis Valley points to the localized mineral exploration and maintenance activities common in this part of the state. The landscape is further characterized by wide open spaces like Rocky Basin and the edge of the Beede Desert, reflecting a remote and utilitarian environment.