2021 Map of Eli SW

About this map

The Niobrara River winds across the northern reaches of this landscape, carving a distinct valley through the sandhills of northern Nebraska. This 2021 survey reveals a sparsely populated terrain characterized by undulating dunes and the wide, flat expanse of Connely Flat. In the northeast corner, Garner Bridge provides a rare crossing point over the river, a critical infrastructure element in a region defined by its wide-open cattle country and remote ranching heritage. To the south, the headwaters of Medicine Cr begin to take shape, draining the high ground toward the Republican River basin. This sheet captures the contemporary state of the Nebraska Sandhills, where the economy remains tied to the ancient hydrology of the Ogallala Aquifer and the seasonal flow of the Niobrara.