2017 Map of Big Woods SW

About this map

The Red River of the North carves a deeply meandering path along the state boundary between North Dakota and Minnesota, defining the eastern edge of this agricultural landscape. The region is characterized by a low-lying, water-rich environment where the Forest River and North Marais River wind through the flatlands of Walsh County. This 2017 survey reveals the intricate relationship between the natural drainage of the Red River Valley and the rigid township and range system that organizes the surrounding farmland. The map traces the varied oxbows and river bends that characterize this borderland, punctuated by a network of local roads such as Co Rd 4 and 58th St NE that provide access to the rural homesteads and fields. These watercourses were historically critical for the drainage and development of some of the most productive soil in the northern plains.