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1939 Map of Owyhee

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Owyhee
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Duck Valley Indian Reservation dominates this 1939 survey, straddling the high desert border between Nevada and Idaho. The landscape is defined by the northward flow of the Owyhee River and an intricate network of irrigation features including the Lateral Main Canal, Lamb Reservoir, and China Dam. Small settlements such as Number One Settlement and Owyhee serve as the focal points for the ranching and agricultural life of the Shoshone and Paiute peoples during this era.

South of the reservation boundary, the terrain rises into the Humboldt National Forest, marked by landmarks like Porcupine Pass and McCall. Significant infrastructure of the period is documented through the Gaging Station and the Idaho-Nev Shaft near Mill Creek, illustrating the early 20th-century intersection of water management and mineral exploration. The map also records numerous springs and water holes essential for livestock, such as Coyote Hole and Barrel Spring.