1971 Map of Bigby Lake

About this map

Fort Belknap Indian Reservation lands encompass this entire 1971 study, defined by a rolling prairie landscape north of the Little Rocky Mountains. The hydrology of the region is centered on the eponymous Bigby Lake, which sits as a prominent natural catch basin in the northwest quadrant. The terrain is deeply incised by seasonal drainage systems, most notably the meandering course of Fifteenmile Creek as it cuts through the central sections toward the east. This survey reveals a landscape largely devoid of permanent structural settlements, instead showing a network of unimproved roads and fine dashed lines indicating selected fence lines that speak to the vast open-range cattle ranching traditions of north-central Montana. In the southern portion, Peoples Creek and its South Fork Peoples Creek provide the primary water source for the arid landscape, while White Bear Creek drains the northern reaches.