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1969 Map of Bear Jaw Creek

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Bear Jaw Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The Powder River meanders through the northeast corner of this landscape, serving as the primary hydrological anchor for a network of intermittent streams and cattle-country improvements. The terrain is defined by the complex drainage systems of Kimball Creek, Bear Jaw Creek, and Morgan Creek, where the presence of the Bear Jaw Windmill and multiple water-containment sites like Willie Reservoir and Corral Creek Reservoir point to the area's history as a managed rangeland.

Surface water management is a dominant theme of this 1960s survey, evidenced by the infrastructure needed to support livestock in the Custer County backcountry. Beyond the named reservoirs, smaller features like the Flowing Well and Corral Creek Well indicate the reliance on groundwater and drilling, while a scattered Drill Hole suggests resource exploration or surveying activity common to the High Plains during this era of regional development.