1990 Map of Salt Water Spring

About this map

The eastern margins of the Black Rock Desert meet the rising slopes of the Jackson Mtns in this 1990 provisional study of Humboldt County. The landscape is defined by its scarce water sources, where isolated points like Salt Water Spring, Hot Spring, and Butte Spring served as vital landmarks in an arid expanse. Evidence of human activity in this remote basin is visible through the Bill DeLong Well and the seasonal presence at Winter Camp. The topography transitions sharply from the level Jackson Creek Slough to the steep, drainage-cut eastern highlands. Several prominent incisions, including Rattlesnake Canyon and Black Rock Canyon, drain the mountain front toward the desert floor. This map captures a specific moment in the late 20th century before modern digital surveying, based on earlier aerial photography and field checks that document the persistence of traditional named locations in the Great Basin.