1984 Map of Down Reservoir NW

About this map

Black Coulee National Wildlife Refuge dominates this northern Montana landscape, protecting a vital riparian environment within the arid plains of Blaine County. This 1984 provisional survey illustrates the intricate topography of the region, where the winding course of Black Coulee and Black Creek define the movement of water across the terrain. These drainages, along with Duck Lake, provided essential water sources in an area characterized by seasonal flows and high prairie elevations. The map reveals the township and range survey lines that partitioned the land into large parcels, reflecting a late 20th-century landscape primarily dedicated to conservation and extensive ranching rather than dense settlement.