1985 Map of Diatomite Reservoir

About this map

Diatomite Reservoir sits at the heart of this high-desert landscape in Lake County, Oregon, where the scarce water sources define the geography of the mid-1980s. The terrain is dominated by prominent elevations such as Saunders Rim and Twin Buttes, which overlook a network of critical waterholes essential for regional livestock management. These features, including Sammys Horse Pen Waterhole and Camp Tank Waterhole, reveal the practical needs of ranching in this arid environment. The presence of several Borrow Pits and named water sources like Brattain Waterhole No 4 and ZX Waterhole No 2 suggests a landscape shaped by both natural catchment and human engineering. This provisional survey captures the infrastructure of the range before modern digital updates, documenting the essential water distribution points that have historically supported local ranching operations.