1988 Map of Powell Buttes

About this map

Powell Buttes dominates the central landscape of this late-twentieth-century survey, rising sharply above the surrounding high desert and ranch lands of Central Oregon. The map documents a rugged volcanic topography defined by named outcrops like Hat Rock and Rooster Comb, alongside an extensive network of water sources such as Wells Spring, Casey Spring, and Stotz Spring. In the lower elevations, human settlement is marked by the Red Cloud Ranch and Three Spring Ranch, while the Central Oregon Canal and its associated levee system in the northwest illustrate the essential infrastructure required for agriculture in this arid environment. The eastern edge is defined by the winding course of the Crooked River as it passes through Swartz Canyon, highlighting the geological transition from the buttes to the river basin.