2013 Map of Nichols Reservoir

About this map

Craters of the Moon National Preserve dominates the southern half of this Butte County landscape, where the jagged boundaries of the protected volcanic terrain meet the structured sections of Idaho's high desert. The transition from the preservation area to the surrounding plains is defined by a sparse but vital water network, including the Blaine Canal and the Nichols Reservoir. Agriculture and ranching footprints are evident at the Soelberg Ranch near the eastern boundary, while the western reaches are drained by Champagne Cr and Timbered Dome Cr. This map captures a classic Western high-desert interface between federal conservation lands and isolated ranching operations at the start of the twenty-first century.