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1981 Map of Moonlight Butte

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Moonlight Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Lost Forest Research Natural Area dominates the southern landscape of this Lake County region, where a unique pine stand is preserved amidst the high desert. In the early 1980s, the terrain shows a clear reliance on water infrastructure for survival and industry, evidenced by numerous man-made features such as the Sagehen Waterhole, Little Sagehen Waterhole, and Bull Lake Waterhole. The map illustrates the shifting natural environment of the Oregon outback, where moving Sand Dunes border the protected forest area.

Strategic water points like the Browns Valley Well and the Chicago Valley Well Water Tank serve as vital landmarks across the arid Browns Valley. Rising above the surrounding flats, the namesake Moonlight Butte provides a significant topographic reference point. This 1981 survey documents the intersection of conservation efforts and the practicalities of land use in a region defined by its limited water resources, including the seasonal Chicago Pond.