1972 Map of Mustang Butte

About this map

Mustang Butte dominates the southern landscape of this Malheur County interior, rising above a vast and largely arid basin. In the early 1970s, the region was characterized by the sprawling Barren Valley and the dry expanse of the Piute Lake Bed, reflecting the high desert hydrology of eastern Oregon. Evidence of cattle ranching and government land management is found at the Crowley Guard Station and nearby Corral, while the presence of a Landing Strip and Mooreville (Site) suggests earlier attempts at more permanent settlement or specialized transit in this isolated area. The drainage of Piute Creek and the small Cook Reservoir represent the vital, limited water resources essential for survival in this environment. Several dry wells and scattered springs like Piute Spring highlight the constant search for water across this section of the Oregon outback.