2020 Map of Bitter Lake

About this map

Bitter Lake and its surrounding wetlands dominate this pocket of the North Dakota landscape in Nelson County. The terrain is defined by numerous unnamed depressions and seasonal pools, a characteristic prairie pothole environment where the water table dictates the use of the land. Human presence is marked by a strict section-line road grid, including Co Rd 15 and Co Rd 4, which segment the landscape into traditional square-mile agricultural blocks. Towards the southeastern corner, the geography shifts toward Twin Lakes, where Orwick Dr provides access to the shoreline. This 2020 survey illustrates how modern infrastructure adapts to the variable hydrography of the region, showing how section roads like 112th Ave NE bisect larger water bodies to maintain the township and range survey system.