1952 Map of Sanborn Slough

About this map

Butte Sink dominates this interior California landscape, revealing a complex network of wetlands and seasonal waterways at the junction of Colusa, Butte, and Sutter counties. The hydrology is defined by the wandering paths of Butte Creek and Drumheller Slough, which feed into the vast marshy expanse south of the Sutter Buttes. This 1952 survey highlights the area's established role as a premier waterfowl habitat, evidenced by a dense concentration of private hunting grounds such as the Sanborn Slough Gun Club and the Wild Goose Country Club. Settlement is sparse in this flood-prone basin, marked primarily by rural infrastructure like the Harmony Sch (Aban'd) and scattered agricultural improvements. Along the western edge, the Sacramento River flows behind protective levees, while the interior shows the early presence of Gas Wells and the industrial drainage of the Cherokee Canal.