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2011 Map of Box Canyon Coulee

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Box Canyon Coulee
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Black Buttes rise above a landscape defined by an intricate network of drainage systems and livestock water infrastructure in Rosebud County. The map reveals a high concentration of small-scale dams and reservoirs, such as Swart Number 5 Dam and the Hook Number 46 Dam, which reflect the area's essential reliance on water management for ranching. These structures are scattered throughout the drainages of Sand Creek and Jack Creek, illustrating how human intervention has modified the natural flow of water through the prairie.

A series of named coulees, including Kenney Coulee, Lone Tree Coulee, and Zumwalt Coulee, cut through the terrain, providing geographical landmarks in an otherwise open country. The only major named thoroughfare, Horse Creek Rd, provides the primary access through this corner of Montana, where the placement of the Barley Reservoir Dam and other family-named features suggests a history of private land stewardship and local water rights.