2021 Map of Gooch Lake

About this map

The high plateau of Gooch Table dominates this corner of Humboldt County, defining a landscape where water management is central to human presence. The distribution of features like Sheep Pen Reservoir and Center Reservoir indicates a long-standing reliance on livestock ranching and seasonal water storage in this arid region. The ephemeral nature of the basin is anchored by Gooch Lake in the north and several named water holes, including Upper Jacobs Water Hole and Jacobs Waterhole. To the south, the terrain breaks into more complex drainages such as Mud Spring Canyon and the headwaters of Hell Cr. The presence of Rhyolite Spring and Perlite Reservoir suggests a geologically distinct ground, where mineral names were used to identify critical water sources for local operations.