1990 Map of Larkspur Hills

About this map

Surprise Valley and the Larkspur Hills define this high-desert basin in Modoc County, where water management is the primary driver of the landscape. The western portion of the map is dominated by the expansive, ephemeral bed of Upper Lake, while the eastern terrain rises into complex drainages like Lieberman Canyon. Human interaction with this arid environment is most evident in the development of water resources, including the Fee Reservoir and localized points such as Conlan Spring. These features, along with the intermittent flows of First Creek and Second Creek, highlight the seasonal nature of the region's hydrology. The transition from the flat alkali lakebed to the steep, eroded slopes of Poison Springs Canyon illustrates the isolation and specialized land use common to northeastern California's remote ranching and grazing corridors.