1964 Map of Soap Holes Reservoir

About this map

High desert ranching and water management define the landscape on the border of Uinta and Sweetwater counties in the mid-1960s. The topography is dominated by large tablelands like Cedar Mountain and Cedar Rim Mountain, which rise above a network of seasonal drainages including Dry Creek and Big Hollow Creek. The reliance on surface water for livestock or industrial use is evident in the numerous small impoundments scattered across the terrain, from the namesake Soap Holes Reservoir to the Hordeum Reservoir in the north. This network of reservoirs, often connected by a Jeep Trail or the Cedar Mountain Road, reflects a high-altitude arid environment where water is the primary driver of human activity. The presence of features like Standard Pit and multiple seismograph locations, such as Seismograph Reservoir No 3, suggests a landscape utilized for both traditional grazing and early energy exploration.