2011 Map of Calamity Coulee

About this map

Calamity Coulee and its neighboring drainage systems define this section of Garfield County, Montana, showing a landscape shaped by intermittent water and pastoral management. The map documents the presence of the William Pluhar Dam, a notable instance of human modification of the natural watercourses in this arid region. The drainage network is dense, with Skunk Arroyo and Hawks Nest Creek feeding into the larger systems of Little Dry Creek and Thompson Creek. The nomenclature of the area reflects local heritage and ranching history, evidenced by the specific naming of several coulees such as Nighten Helser Coulee, Ogilvie Coulee, and Flannery Coulee, alongside Todd Coulee. These features provide a clear picture of the land's hydrology and the legacy of the people who worked these eastern Montana plains in the early 21st century.