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2014 Map of Hardin Ranch

Name: 2014 Topographic Map of Hardin Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2014
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2014

About this map

The high desert landscape of Crook County is characterized here by a network of waterholes, reservoirs, and ephemeral basins essential for ranching operations. Hardin Ranch serves as a central point of human activity within this arid expanse, where seasonal drainages like Twelvemile Creek and Long Hollow Creek are managed through man-made structures such as the Twelvemile Reservoir and Lowen Reservoir. The terrain transitions from the broad Windmill Flat to prominent elevations like Magpie Butte and Grass Butte, while the Sherman Rim defines the southwestern portion of the quadrangle.

Water management is the defining theme of the region, evidenced by numerous named pools such as Porkchop Lake, Soda Lake, and Muhly Lake. Unusual geological depressions, notably the Boston Sink, punctuate the flats. These features, along with scattered sites like Westlake Waterhole and Old Lakebed Waterhole, illustrate the historical and ongoing adaptation of agricultural life to the interior Oregon environment.