1998 Map of Rail Creek Butte

About this map

Malheur National Forest dominates this landscape in the southern Blue Mountains region during the late 1990s. The terrain is defined by its extensive drainage network and open meadows, most notably Myrtle Park Meadows and the high Mud Flat in the southern portion of the quadrangle. The topography centers on the prominent Rail Creek Butte, where several watercourses like Rail Creek and Damon Creek originate, flowing through steep draws and timbered slopes. Evidence of land management and historical grazing is present through named features such as Officer Springs and the expansive Bear Valley Burns area. This 1998 revision by the Forest Service highlights a landscape where water sources were critical for both the natural ecosystem and local industry, with numerous springs dotting the hillsides near Shirtail and along Crooked Creek.