2011 Map of Moonlight Butte

About this map

Moonlight Butte and the arid eastern Oregon landscape define this high-desert region in Lake County. The map details a network of vital water sources essential for range management and wildlife, including Bull Lake Waterhole, Little Sagehen Waterhole, and Chicago Pond. These isolated features indicate the historical and contemporary reliance on seasonal water in an otherwise parched environment. The southeastern portion of the quadrangle is occupied by the Lost Forest Research Natl Area, an unusual island of ponderosa pines separated from the nearest forest by miles of sagebrush. Transportation is limited to a few arterial routes such as Lost Forest Rd and several Bureau of Land Management tracks, illustrating the sparse settlement and focus on conservation and research within the Browns Valley vicinity.