1972 Map of Scott Reservoir

About this map

The Owyhee River cuts a deep path through Malheur County in this early 1970s survey, creating the dramatic Owyhee Canyon characterized by rapids and steep terrain. This arid landscape is defined by its water management infrastructure, including the Aqueduct and Ditch systems that divert flow through the high desert. Local ranchers and land users relied on scattered water sources such as Owyhee Spring and the Round Mtn Well, while larger catchments like Scott Reservoir and Dry Creek Reservoir provided critical storage. Travel through this portion of southeastern Oregon is marked by a network of Jeep Trails and the Happy Valley Road, which navigate around prominent landmarks like Round Mtn and through the drainage of Sand Hollow and China Gulch.