2020 Map of Christmas Reservoir

About this map

The dry-land ranching and water management systems of Valley County are central to this 2020 map. The landscape is defined by a complex network of coulees—seasonal drainage channels—including Home Coulee, Whites Coulee, and the curiously named Pot Hole Coulee. These features highlight the natural erosion patterns of the Montana plains, where water is a scarce and precious resource. Human intervention is evident through numerous small-scale impoundments such as Christmas Reservoir, Horace Reservoir, and the humorously titled Far-Nuff Reservoir. These reservoirs, along with Trailerhouse Reservoir, likely serve as stock ponds for cattle, reflecting the area's agricultural reliance on capturing run-off. Transportation is limited to remote routes like Skyview Ridge Rd and S Bench Rd, which navigate the high ground between the drainage basins of Brazil Cr and N Fork Little Beaver Cr.