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1993 Map of Pinnacle Lake

Name: 1993 Topographic Map of Pinnacle Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1996
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1996

About this map

The Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge dominates the northwestern portion of this landscape, centered on the expansive Clear Lake Reservoir. This high-altitude basin, managed at a spillway elevation of 4480, is defined by its intricate shoreline and the surrounding protected lands of the Modoc National Forest. The map reveals a high-desert environment where water is the primary organizing force, evidenced by seasonal drainage systems like Mowitz Creek and Boles Creek that weave through the volcanic terrain.

Further south, smaller bodies of water such as Pinnacle Lake and Red Lake provide localized points of interest for researchers studying the hydrology of the Modoc Plateau. The survey also records various benchmark elevations, including BM 4598.3 and BM 4658.7, which trace the subtle rise and fall of the basin floor. These markers, along with livestock water sources like Barry Tank, reflect the land's dual role as a wildlife sanctuary and a resource for the regional cattle economy in the late twentieth century.