2017 Map of Shoofly Springs

About this map

Shoofly Springs serves as a vital water source in this high-desert region of Owyhee County, where a complex network of seasonal drainages and man-made impoundments defines the landscape's utility. The drainage patterns of Battle Cr and Shoofly Cr underscore the region's reliance on water management for ranching and land use. This 2017 survey reveals an extensive system of reservoirs, including Eds Defeat Reservoir, Owens Reservoir, and Bybee Reservoir, which capture runoff in an otherwise arid environment. These named features, often associated with early settlers or specific topographical events, provide a roadmap of human effort to harness the intermittent flows of Yatahoney Cr and Harris Cr. The map illustrates the intersection of public land management and agricultural necessity in southwestern Idaho.