Loading map...

2017 Map of Sourdough Spring

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Sourdough Spring
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Sourdough Mtn and Grassy Mtn anchor this high-desert landscape in Malheur County, where water sources are the primary landmarks for navigation and survival. The mapping reveals a complex network of springs and reservoirs designed to capture seasonal runoff, including the Upper Kane Spring Reservoir, Wildcat Canyon Reservoir, and Grassy Reservoir. These man-made features, alongside natural points like Sourdough Spring and Hoodoo Spring, illustrate the infrastructure required for ranching in this arid environment.

Remote roads like Rock Canyon Rd and Twin Springs Rd provide the only access through the broken terrain of Basin Gulch and Negro Rock Canyon. The presence of the Rye Field and the Sourdough Basin suggests localized areas of agricultural or grazing activity amidst the dramatic topography of Negro Rock. This map is a record of how land is managed and partitioned in the vast interior of Eastern Oregon.