2011 Map of Payne Creek

About this map

Zimmerman Ranch and Turner Ranch anchor the southern landscape of this high desert region in Malheur County, where water management is central to the local economy. The network of drainage and storage is evidenced by numerous impoundments like Fifteenmile Reservoir, West Cherokee Reservoir, and McDermitt Creek Reservoir. These features, along with names like Cow Camp, suggest a landscape deeply tied to livestock and seasonal grazing. The terrain is defined by dramatic cuts through the plateau, including Cherokee Canyon and Rattlesnake Canyon, which funnel seasonal flows through the rugged topography. A series of natural springs, such as Beaver Log Spring and Mahogany Spring, provide critical water sources in an otherwise arid environment where ephemeral features like Dry Draw predominate.