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1967 Map of Owyhee Dam

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Owyhee Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Owyhee Dam anchors this landscape, controlling the waters of the Owyhee River and forming the northern reaches of Lake Owyhee. The complex irrigation infrastructure required to manage this arid terrain is clearly visible through a series of engineering features, including the Owyhee Ditch, several elevated aqueducts, and underground passages like Tunnel No 1 and Tunnel No 5. These structures emphasize the mid-century transition of Malheur County into a managed agricultural corridor.

Prominent geologic landmarks such as Deer Butte and Blackjack Butte rise above the deep incisions of Black Canyon and Snively Gulch. Local recreation and natural curiosities are noted at Lake Owyhee State Park and the geothermal waters of Shively Hot Spring and Hot Spring. Geologists and historians can trace the network of unnamed jeep trails and siphons that supported the remote operations around the dam and reservoir during the late 1960s.