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1985 Map of Round Butte Dam

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Round Butte Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Round Butte Dam and its resulting reservoir, Lake Billy Chinook, dominate this mid-1980s landscape at the confluence of three major waterways. The map illustrates the dramatic meeting of the Metolius River, Deschutes River, and Crooked River, now largely contained within the boundaries of The Cove Palisades State Park. The impoundment has transformed the deep canyons into a recreational hub, indicated by the many boat ramps, campgrounds, and the Dam Observatory.

Beyond the water, the plateau above the Palisades reveals a different history. The Grandview (Site) marks the location of a former settlement on the arid Desert bench, while landmarks like Dave Ike Spring suggest the importance of water sources in the high country. Large-scale topographic features such as The Island and The Peninsula are clearly defined, showing how the river systems carved through the volcanic basalt of Metolius Bench long before the modern dam was engineered.