1987 Map of Richland

About this map

The lowlands of Eagle Valley define this portion of Baker County, where irrigation infrastructure supports the agricultural settlements of Richland and New Bridge. The landscape is shaped by the complex water management systems of the late twentieth century, including the Pine Valley Ditch and Newt Young Ditch, which divert water from mountain-fed streams to the valley floor. To the north, the terrain rises into the timbered slopes of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, marked by numerous drainages such as Summit Creek and Barnard Creek. In the south, the Powder River flows into the Brownlee Reservoir, a major geographic feature resulting from mid-century hydroelectric development. Small-scale industrial and municipal features, including a Mill Pond and Sewage Disposal Ponds, indicate the localized utility and industry of these rural Oregon communities during the 1980s.