1962 Map of Round Butte Dam

About this map

Lake Billy Chinook dominates this landscape at the confluence where the Metolius River, Deschutes River, and Crooked River meet. Captured shortly after the dam's completion, the survey shows the newly formed reservoir filling the deep canyons that separate the Metolius Bench, Canadian Bench, and the Lower Desert. The massive engineering of the Round Butte Dam is visible at the northern end of the map, accompanied by its powerhouse and a Dam Observatory. Historical settlement patterns are represented by the Grandview townsite, while the western shore marks the Warm Springs Indian Reservation Boundary. This area transitions from the high plateau agriculture along Belmont Lane to the protected recreation lands of The Palisades State Park, illustrating the mid-century transformation of the High Desert through hydroelectric development and water management.