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1962 Map of Snake Lake

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Snake Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Surprise Valley and the steep eastern slopes of the Warner Mountains dominate this early 1960s landscape, illustrating the dramatic transition from high alpine forest to the arid basin floor. The Modoc National Forest occupies the western high ground, marked by rugged terrain features like Snowslide Canyon and the prominent peak of Hat Mountain. Water management is central to the area's geography, with the Spillway at Sworinger Reservoir and the Bare Creek Ditch channeling resources toward the ranching operations in the valley below.

Local industry and infrastructure are centered around the Bare Ranch and its adjacent Bare Ranch Airport, located on the flat plains near the California-Nevada border. This survey also records the seasonal hydrology of the region, documenting the expanse of Lower Lake and the smaller Snake Lake. Numerous springs, including Van Riper Spring, and the courses of Silver Creek and Barber Creek provide the essential water network for this remote high-desert environment.