1976 Map of Round Butte Dam

About this map

Round Butte Dam stands at the heart of this orthophotoquad, anchoring the confluence of major high-desert waterways. Produced in cooperation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, this 1976 aerial survey provides a photographic look at the complex geometry where the Deschutes River, Metolius River Lake Chinook, and Crooked River converge. The imagery reveals the steep canyon walls and the expansive reaches of Lake Chinook, illustrating how the massive hydroelectric project transformed the landscape of Jefferson County. This perspective captures the engineered shoreline and the surrounding arid terrain during the mid-1970s, offering researchers a visual record of the dam's footprint and the resulting reservoir system before later recreational developments and local land-use changes.