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2012 Map of Big Lake

Name: 2012 Topographic Map of Big Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2012
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2012

About this map

The Missouri River creates a dynamic western boundary for this portion of Holt County, where the river's historical shifts have left behind prominent landforms like Nemaha Bends and Squaw Bend. Centered around the oxbow of Big Lake, the landscape is a complex network of hydrological history, marked by the Old Channel Tarkio River and Old Channel Little Tarkio Creek. These former watercourses trace the legacy of flood control and agricultural drainage in the Missouri River bottomlands.

Settlement patterns are anchored by small communities such as Bigelow, Fortescue, and Napier, which serve as hubs for the surrounding farm country. To the east, the presence of Mallard Marsh, Pintail Pool, and Snow Goose Pool along Squaw Creek indicates a managed wetland environment essential for migratory waterfowl. The map detail extends to local naming conventions for lakeside residential areas, including Alpine Beach Drive and Fairhaven Drive, reflecting the area's development as a recreational destination within the floodplain.