1968 Map of Guano Lake

About this map

Shirk Ranch anchors the northeastern corner of this high-desert basin, situated near the edge of the Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge. This 1968 field-checked map illustrates a landscape of seasonal water and livestock management, dominated by the expansive, often dry Guano Lake bed and the dramatic elevation change of the Shirk Rim. Small, eponymous bodies of water like Egg Lake, Corral Lake, and Round Lake dot the western plateau, while water control infrastructure is noted at the Spillway Elev 5200 and Dam near the Shirk Lake basin. The survey reveals the sparse connectivity of the region through a network of Jeep Trails and scattered resources like the Well and Little Reservoir, which supported the ranching operations typical of Lake County during the mid-20th century.