2011 Map of Washburn Basin

About this map

Zimmerman Ranch sits near the northern boundary of this high desert terrain in Malheur County, where the landscape is defined by a network of seasonal drainages and prominent volcanic uplifts. The area is anchored by the massive Black Mountain to the south and the sprawling Long Ridge which bisects the central plateau. This territory is marked by essential water sources for ranching and wildlife, including Old Corral Spring, Rock Spring, and Mud Spring. The drainage patterns are complex, with Riser Creek and its tributary Little Riser Creek carving through the western reaches, while the Washburn Basin provides a natural catchment in the east. These features illustrate the land-use patterns of the Oregon-Nevada borderlands, where geography dictates the location of early cattle operations and the few established outposts in a territory dominated by basins like Bull Basin and steep features such as Basco Canyon.