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2017 Map of Dalzell SE

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Dalzell SE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

The Cheyenne River carves a deep, winding path through this portion of the South Dakota badlands, creating a landscape defined by sharp elevation changes and named draws. This 2017 survey reveals the intersection of Meade and Pennington counties amidst a network of canyons, including the significant Dalzell Canyon, Big Canyon, and Little Canyon. These natural corridors dictate the layout of the few maintained roads such as Cheney Rd and Babcock Rd.

Away from the river, the terrain levels out into plateaus like Shepherd Flat and rises toward prominent high points including Marvin Butte and Poverty Point. Water is a scarce and vital resource in this semi-arid environment, with Pierce Lake and Cedar Breaks Cr providing critical drainage points for the surrounding ranch land. The map illustrates the enduring nature of the original public land survey system, showing township and range lines that still organize this western landscape.