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2016 Map of Alpha

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Alpha
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The settlement of Alpha sits in the southwestern corner of this landscape, where the agricultural grid of Jackson County meets the drainage of the E Fork Des Moines River. This 2016 survey illustrates a highly engineered water system designed to manage the glacial depressions of the region. A network of man-made waterways, including County Ditch Number One and Judicial Ditch Number Thirtytwo, crisscrosses the township lines to connect natural basins like Watkins Lake and Duck Lake.

The boundary between Jackson Co and Martin Co defines the eastern edge of the map, where Elm Cr and Big Twin Lake emerge. The dominance of the section-line road system, featuring routes like Co HWY 34 and Co HWY 26, reflects the modern continuation of the Public Land Survey System. These roads frame a mosaic of wetlands and prairie potholes that persist despite the extensive ditching efforts seen in features like Judicial Ditch Number Fifteen.