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2023 Map of Mahogany Gap

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Mahogany Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Mahogany Mtn and Spring Mountain dominate this corner of Malheur County, where the high desert landscape is defined by a network of seasonal water sources and remote ranching routes. The area centers on Mahogany Gap, a natural pass between high ridges that serves as a transit point for the Goodyear Cutoff and the Mahogany Cutoff. These primitive roads, along with Jess Strode Rd, trace the movement of people and livestock through a territory where water is the primary concern for survival.

Reliable water points like Old Maids Spring, Gap Spring, and Ninemeyer Spring are critical landmarks in this arid environment. To the south, Hawks Nest Reservoir and the drainage of Mahogany Creek show the efforts to manage the limited flow from the surrounding peaks. The naming of Old Maids Basin and Old Maids Creek suggests localized history or folklore tied to this specific pocket of the eastern Oregon rangeland.