1967 Map of Diamond Butte

About this map

Owyhee Lake dominates this 1960s landscape, its waters reaching a Normal Pool Elevation of 2658 feet as it fills the deep basalt-walled canyons of the High Desert. The map preserves a critical link to the region's pioneer history at Watson Cem, a remnant of the former Watson settlement submerged by the reservoir's creation. Geologic features like the Breaks and the dark volcanic formations of Black Rocks surround the water, while the presence of several isolated water sources, including Red Rock Spring and Gillespie Spring, highlights the sparse but vital hydrology of this arid corner of Malheur County. A single Jeep Trail provides the primary overland access through the rugged terrain east of the lake, passing near a Hot Spring along the shoreline.