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1972 Map of Owyhee Butte

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Owyhee Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

The Owyhee Canyon dominates this 1970s landscape, where the Owyhee River carves a deep, winding path through Malheur County. The river’s course is marked by several stretches of rapids, emphasizing the unmanaged flow of the water in this high desert environment. Away from the canyon rim, the terrain is characterized by volcanic features and man-made water management. A prominent Lava Field and the volcanic peak of Saddle Butte sit to the west, while the eastern plateau is dotted with essential ranching infrastructure.

Water security in this arid region is evidenced by numerous landmarks, including White Rock Reservoir and the Eiguren Reservoir No 1. These small catchments, along with scattered water tanks, supported the livestock operations that defined the area's utility. Notable landmarks like Owyhee Butte and Little Owyhee Butte provide vertical orientation across the high plains, which are otherwise traversed only by occasional jeep trails and fence lines.