2012 Map of Desert Ranch

About this map

Desert Ranch Reservoir serves as the central hydrological feature of this arid high-desert landscape in northeastern Nevada. Located along the course of Fourmile Creek, the reservoir supports the namesake Desert Ranch, a prominent point of human activity in an otherwise sparsely settled region. The terrain is defined by the convergence of seasonal drainage systems, including the southern reach of Chimney Creek, which cuts through the basin. This 2012 survey illustrates the essential relationship between water management and ranching in Elko County, where the storage of creek runoff was vital for sustaining life and livestock in the Great Basin's interior. The map documents the persistent layout of ranching infrastructure and remote dirt tracks that have defined the local economy for generations.