2017 Map of Drinkwater Pass

About this map

Otis Valley and Drewsey Valley anchor this portion of the High Desert, where the Malheur River and its tributaries carve through the arid terrain of Harney County. The map reveals an intricate network of water management infrastructure essential to the region's ranching history, including the Stallard Ditch, Williams Ditch, and the extensive Drewsey Reclamation Company Ditch. These man-made channels, alongside the Altnow Reservoir and Riley Reservoir, illustrate the significant effort to redirect water across the sagebrush-covered plains. Rising above the valley floors, Drinkwater Pass serves as a key transit point, while the Beede Desert stretches across the northeast. Local springs such as Cook Spring and Weatherly Spring represent critical water sources that once sustained both livestock and early travelers navigating the remote corridors like the Juntura Cutoff Rd.