1984 Map of Coulter Coulee

About this map

The rugged drainage patterns of the Montana prairie define this landscape along the Phillips Co Valley Co boundary. Central to the topography is Frenchman Creek, which winds through the western half of the map, fed by a series of deeply etched coulees such as School Section Coulee and Shed Coulee. The naming conventions reflect the practicalities of ranching and land management in the mid-1980s, with features like Big Toe Flat and Morgan Reservoir indicating the essential role of water catchment and open range in this arid environment. To the east, the terrain shifts toward the systems of Big Snake Creek and Little Snake Creek, illustrating the complex network of intermittent streams and natural depressions that dominate this portion of the northern plains.