1964 Map of Drews Reservoir

About this map

Drews Reservoir dominates the high desert landscape of Lake County, its waters held at a spillway elevation of 4,915 feet. This 1964 survey, revised in 1980, shows the reservoir framed by the protected lands of the Fremont National Forest and the rising slopes of the Willow Creek Hills. The map details a landscape transition from the agricultural operations at Hay Creek Ranch to the more primitive reaches of Drews Valley. Dozens of water sources, including Kernan Spring and Salt Spring, are identified throughout the terrain, suggesting the vital importance of water management in this arid region. For researchers, the presence of the La Sere Trail and various named waterways like Chandler Creek and Sage Hen Creek provides a clear view of the rural infrastructure and drainage patterns that have long supported cattle ranching and timber interests in the Oregon backcountry.