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2011 Map of Deacon Crossing

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Deacon Crossing
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Deacon Crossing serves as a central landmark in this remote corner of Malheur County, where the Middle Fork Owyhee River and its tributaries define the landscape. The geography is characterized by a sophisticated network of water management, evidenced by numerous man-made features like State-Line Reservoir, Pole Creek Reservoir, and Sharon Creek Reservoir. These water sources support isolated agricultural and ranching outposts such as C Ranch and the nearby Rentile Field.

Evidence of historical habitation remains at The Homestead Cabin situated near Berry Gulch. The terrain itself presents challenges for travel and navigation, as noted by the evocative label The Difficulty west of the river. From the Pole Creek Breaks in the north to the Owyhee River in the south, the map illustrates the 21st-century reality of high-desert ranching, where survival and industry are tied directly to the sparse creeks and reservoirs.