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2011 Map of Square Mountain

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Square Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Square Mountain anchors this high-desert landscape in Harney County, where water management is the primary signature of human presence. The interior of the basin is defined by the ephemeral Slickey Lake and a series of livestock-oriented improvements such as The Troughs and the Stockwater Ditch. This 2011 survey reveals an environment where survival and ranching history are tied to specific named water sources, including Catlow Spring, Lee Morris Spring, and Shipley Spring.

Evidence of early exploration or local storage is found at McDade Cache, while the broader terrain transitions from the low expanse of Raz Lewis Flat to the drainage of Box Canyon Creek. The presence of Rock Knoll Reservoir and Pueblo Reservoir underscores the strategic control of runoff in this arid region, providing a clear view of the infrastructure supporting Oregon's remote ranching outposts in the early 21st century.