1990 Map of Sinker Canyon

About this map

Sinker Canyon and its complex network of seasonal drainages define this section of the Owyhee landscape during the early 1990s. The geography is characterized by deep ravines and high ridges, including Striker Ridge and Diamond Basin, which dictate the paths of early travel routes like Silver City Road. Human presence is marked by remnants of resource extraction and ranching, such as the Gilmore Ranch (Site), an Open Pit Mine, and various prospects scattered across the uplands. Water management is critical in this arid environment, evidenced by the Hulet-Sinker Creek Reservoir and numerous ditches and canals that divert flow from Sinker Creek. The northeastern corner of the sheet transitions toward the Snake River, falling within the protected Snake River Birds of Prey Area.