1985 Map of Big Lake

About this map

The Valentine National Wildlife Refuge dominates this section of the Nebraska Sandhills, protecting a complex network of freshwater lakes and wetlands. Grounded in the mid-1980s, the map reveals a landscape defined by water and grass, where large bodies like Big Lake and Dads Lake are interspersed among smaller basins such as Lost Lake and Pony Lake. The presence of the Vian Ranch underscores the region's sparse ranching footprint amidst the protected prairie. In the southern portion of the sheet, the headwaters of Goose Creek meander through a broad drainage area, bordered by the Pearson Swamp and Chamberlain Swamp. This topography highlights the vital role of the Ogallala Aquifer in maintaining the Sweetwater Valley and its surrounding marshlands, which serve as essential habitat for migratory birds and local wildlife.