1971 Map of Tunupa

About this map

The Big Wood River and Little Wood River converge in this high-desert landscape, where the geology of the Lava flows dictates the path of both natural water and irrigation infrastructure. The small settlement of Tunupa sits at a critical junction of hydraulic engineering, marked by a Diversion Dam and Powerhouse that managed the river's flow for early agricultural development. The terrain is a complex network of volcanic formations and man-made channels, including the Main Canal, which cuts across the Gooding Co Lincoln Co boundary. Researchers of Idaho's water history will find significant detail in the placement of the Sliman Reservoir and various water works like the Jones Wendell Well, illustrating the 20th-century effort to reclaim this arid region through concerted engineering and persistence.