2017 Map of Poison Butte

About this map

Poison Butte and Mid Butte define the topography of this high-desert Owyhee County landscape, where the seasonal management of water is central to the land's utility. The presence of several catchments, such as Post Office Reservoir and Lake Pit Reservoir, reflects a region shaped by ranching and grazing requirements in an arid environment. The Jarbidge River cuts through the southwestern corner, joined by the drainage of Dorsey Cr, providing a critical water source for the surrounding plateaus. This 2017 study illustrates the enduring Public Land Survey System grid across the townships of T13S through T15S, showing how modern land management remains tethered to nineteenth-century section lines. Isolated water features like Flat Draw Reservoir and Poison Cr Reservoir highlight the scattered, essential infrastructure required to sustain activity in these remote Idaho reaches.