2023 Map of Lawen

About this map

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge anchors the southern portion of this landscape, where the high desert meets a complex network of wetlands and seasonal waterways. The drainage pattern is defined by the diverging paths of the East Fork Silvies River and West Fork Silvies River, which feed into an intricate system of sloughs such as Square Well Slough and Black Slough. This water-rich environment in an otherwise arid region has historically shaped the footprint of local agriculture and habitat management, evidenced by the Ausmus Canal. The small settlement of Lawen serves as a central point for the local road network, which includes descriptively named routes like Embree Bridge Rd and Crane Blvd. These roads trace the section lines of the Public Land Survey System, highlighting the orderly human overlay upon the wandering natural hydrology of the Harney Basin.