2017 Map of Kane Spring Gulch

About this map

Kane Spring Gulch defines the remote high-desert topography of Malheur County, Oregon, where water management is the primary driver of human modification on the landscape. The distribution of features like Little Sandy Reservoir and Broken Rim Reservoir underscores the importance of capturing seasonal runoff in this arid region. Ranching and land use are further evident in the naming of several critical water sources, including Whiskey Spring Number Two, Hanging Rock Spring, and Sponge Spring. The map captures a section of the eastern Oregon desert connected by primitive routes like Rock Canyon Rd, which skirts Sagebrush Gulch and Sand Hollow. These names reflect a landscape shaped by basic survival and the necessity of reliable springs for cattle and local transit through the sagebrush steppe.