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1981 Map of Badland Draw

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Badland Draw
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Haystack Butte rises as a prominent landmark in this segment of the Great Plains, where the state boundaries of Montana and North Dakota meet. This 1981 edition, based on earlier aerial photography, illustrates a landscape defined by an intricate drainage network flowing through the arid breaks of Fallon and Slope Counties. The terrain transitions from the high elevations of Windy Ridge down into the namesake Badland Draw, revealing the erosional patterns characteristic of the region.

Water management and natural drainage dominate the map, with named features such as Johny Creek, Dugout Creek, and the headwaters of Cannonball Creek. These waterways, along with scattered wells, indicate the vital role of water sources for land use in this open rangeland. The map provides clear evidence of the remote topography before further modern development, capturing the physical character of the borderlands during the early 1980s.