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1965 Map of Dry Fork Ridge

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Dry Fork Ridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

The arid landscape of Phillips County is defined by the high ground of Dry Fork Ridge, a prominent terrain feature that directs the flow of seasonal drainage across this portion of the Missouri River Basin. The water management strategies of the mid-1960s are evident in the dense network of small impoundments throughout the area, including Dusky Reservoir, Happy Gang Reservoir, and Hoverson Reservoir. These scattered catchments, along with named springs and tanks, highlight the vital importance of water storage for ranching in this high-plains environment.

Industrial activity is marked by excavation sites like Buckhorn Pit and Turkey Track Pit, while the drainages of Dry Fork Creek and Beauchamp Creek provide the primary geographic structure. This survey, compiled by the Geological Survey as part of the Missouri River Basin development program, captures a specialized view of rural Montana resource management during a period of agricultural stabilization.