1990 Map of Kinney Lake

About this map

Wallowa National Forest land dominates this northeastern Oregon terrain, where the high ridges and steep canyons of the Wallowa Mountains descend toward the valley floor. The Wallowa Valley Improvement Canal provides a stark marker of human engineering, cutting across the landscape to redirect water for agricultural use in the lower elevations. The map reveals a complex hydrological network defined by the diverging paths of Little Sheep Creek and Big Sheep Creek, which have carved significant features such as Rail Canyon and Mitchell Canyon. Resource extraction is evident in several Quarry sites located near Sheep Creek Hill, while the remote high-country character is maintained around Pappose Lake and the crest of Pappose Ridge. Small-scale features like Cold Springs and the many named gulches suggest a landscape shaped by seasonal water and high-altitude ranching or forestry.