2011 Map of Cluster Buttes NW

About this map

Box Elder Creek meanders through this portion of Dawson County, providing a vital water source for the ranching infrastructure found here in the early 21st century. The drainage pattern is defined by several water management features, including the Mill Iron Dam and the Box Elder Number 2 Dam, which support localized water storage in this semi-arid landscape. These structures create the Milliron Reservoir Number 1 and Milliron Reservoir Number 2, essential for land use in this part of Montana. Transportation through the area is limited to rural routes, most notably Road 328, which traverses the landscape to connect these remote water features. The map illustrates a high degree of reliance on water engineering to sustain activity in the plains environment.