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1948 Map of Alkali Coulee

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Alkali Coulee
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Big Muddy Creek meanders sharply through this northeastern Montana landscape, marking a transition between the open prairie and the established boundaries of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. In the southeastern corner, the town of Medicine Lake serves as a small rail hub along the Great Northern railroad line, situated adjacent to the protected waters of the Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Evidence of early local industry and education is scattered across the township lines, including a Coal Mine and Gravel Pit near the creek bends, and the Rose Valley Sch serving the rural northern plains. The presence of Diversion Ditch No 1 and various dams along Alkali Coulee and Otter Creek indicates the critical role of water management in this region during the post-war era, as researchers can trace the intersection of indigenous lands, federal wildlife conservation, and small-town infrastructure.