2023 Map of Northwest Harney Lake

About this map

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge anchors the southern landscape of this high desert terrain, where the marshy transition to the expansive Harney Lake basin begins. This environment is defined by the managed flow of water through the Saint Clair Canal and Goulden Canal, critical infrastructure for navigating the arid Warm Springs Valley. In the north, the elevation shifts dramatically toward Freeman Butte and the winding descents of Brown Canyon and Sand Hollow. The presence of several ranch roads, including Oo Ranch Rd and Double O Ranch Rd, indicates the long-standing agricultural and ranching footprint in this corner of Harney County. The topography suggests a complex relationship between the seasonal flows of Silver Creek and the surrounding alkaline flats, a pattern typical of Oregon's internal drainage basins.