1989 Map of Card Lake

About this map

Ideal Valley and Survey Valley dominate this corner of the Nebraska Sandhills, where the landscape is defined by an intricate network of interdunal wetlands and lakes. Cattle ranching remains the primary human footprint, marked by scattered homesteads such as the Frye Ranch, Jamison Ranch, and Card Ranch. These operations are situated near vital water sources like Card Lake and Bos Lake, illustrating the essential relationship between the region's high water table and the livestock industry. In the southern portion of the survey, larger bodies of water including Red Mill Lake, Tony Lake, and Alkali Lake appear alongside Indian Lake, providing a clear picture of the hydrological patterns that have sustained these isolated ranching communities through the late twentieth century.