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1989 Map of Crittenden Springs

Name: 1989 Topographic Map of Crittenden Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

Crittenden Springs and the nearby Crittenden Reservoir serve as the primary hydrologic landmarks in this high-desert landscape of northeastern Nevada. Surveyed in the late 1980s, the map reveals a terrain where water management is central to the land's utility, evidenced by the Mill Creek Reservoir to the north and the scattered presence of Mosquito Well. The eastern slopes of the Delano Mountains dominate the western portion of the quadrangle, giving way to a series of drainages including Schoolhouse Canyon and Long Canyon.

Evidence of historical prospecting and geological exploration is noted through several Adits located near the reservoir. The drainage patterns of Granite Creek and Silver Creek illustrate how seasonal runoff from the higher elevations is funneled toward the flatter basin floors. This topographic record captures a specific moment in the rural development of Elko County, where cattle ranching and mineral exploration shaped the distribution of roads and water resources.