2020 Map of Cowan Reservoir

About this map

Cowan Reservoir and the surrounding high plateau of Owyhee County define this landscape of the modern American West. This high-altitude desert environment is shaped by essential water sources and distinct landforms such as Arch Canyon and the massive Diamond A Desert. The map reveals a reliance on isolated water points, including Dead Horse Spring, Willow Spring, and Gardner Spring, which are critical in a region where surface water is scarce. Human engineering is visible through the Cowan Ditch, which redirects flow from Cougar Cr toward the reservoir. Geologic features like the Arch Table and Dorsey Table provide clear markers of the flat-topped mesas characteristic of the region, while the curiously named Hole in the Ground suggests localized topographical depressions in the southwest corner.