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1990 Map of Ninemile Slough

Name: 1990 Topographic Map of Ninemile Slough
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1990
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1990

About this map

Harney Valley is the focal point of this arid basin study in eastern Oregon, revealing a landscape defined by water management and drainage. The terrain is crisscrossed by an extensive network of human-made infrastructure designed to control seasonal runoff and support livestock, including numerous Check Dams and individual Check Dam installations. This intricate system of water control illustrates the challenges of ranching and land use in the high desert, where every drop of moisture is carefully directed.

Winding through the lower portions of the quadrangle, the Ninemile Slough serves as a primary drainage artery, while scattered Stock Pond locations provide vital watering holes across the sagebrush flats. The presence of a Spoil Bank suggests significant earth-moving activities related to dredging or canal maintenance, further highlighting the modified nature of this seemingly empty landscape during the late twentieth century.