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1973 Map of North Of Ryegrass Flat

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of North Of Ryegrass Flat
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1995
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1995

About this map

The Idaho National Engineering Laboratory dominates this high-desert landscape in Butte County, reflecting a period of intense federal research and nuclear development in the early 1970s. The terrain is defined by dramatic geologic shifts, including the Big Lost River Sinks and Little Lost River Sinks, where surface water disappears into the subterranean basalt. This endorheic drainage pattern is a hallmark of the Snake River Plain, creating a specialized environment for the lab's remote operations.

Industrial activity is evidenced by several Borrow Pit excavations and larger Borrow Pits situated near the primary transit corridor of Lincoln Boulevard. Beyond the paved roadway, a network of 4wd tracks provides the only access through the alkaline flats and depressions. The Big Lost River cuts across the western portion of the map, though the presence of multiple Well sites indicates a reliance on groundwater in this arid expanse.