2020 Map of Dust Bowl

About this map

Gilchrist Valley and the evocatively named Dust Bowl sit at the intersection of Deschutes, Crook, and Harney Counties in central Oregon. This 2020 survey documents a high-desert landscape defined by seasonal drainages and remote access roads. The hydrology is marked by ephemeral features such as Swamp Creek, Bulger Creek, and Buck Creek, along with the isolated Juniper Spring. The presence of Misery Flat in the southwestern portion of the quadrangle suggests the difficult environmental conditions that historically challenged settlers and ranchers in this corner of the state. A sparse network of unpaved routes, including Schraeder Rd and Buck Creek Rd, provides the only infrastructure across these basin-and-range transitions.