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1972 Map of Nichols Reservoir

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Nichols Reservoir
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Volcanic activity and water management define this portion of Butte County in the early 1970s. The southern half of the quadrangle is dominated by a jagged Lava Crack network, illustrating the raw basaltic terrain of the Snake River Plain. Human presence is concentrated around essential water resources and ranching operations, such as Soelberg Ranch in the northeast.

The central focus of the irrigation infrastructure is Nichols Reservoir, supported by the Blaine Canal and several natural flows including Timbered Cr and Champagne Creek. Scattered Borrow Pits suggest local material extraction for road building or canal maintenance. Significant landmarks like Dome and various water sources such as Teekick Spring and Hammond Spr provide vital points of orientation in an otherwise sparsely settled high-desert environment.