2014 Map of Elwood NW

About this map

Tri County Supply Canal cuts across this corner of Nebraska, illustrating the complex irrigation and water management infrastructure essential to the region's agricultural life. The landscape is defined by its drainages and numerous artificial water bodies, including the significant Elwood Reservoir and the Plum Creek Canyon system. This area, where Dawson, Gosper, and Frontier counties meet, shows a pattern of upland farming and cattle grazing partitioned by a rigid grid of section roads like Road 750 and Road 745. Researchers will find numerous private water storage sites, such as Bellamy Reservoir and Franta Reservoir, which speak to the individual land management practices of local families. The presence of Johnson Lake and Gallagher Canyon suggests the integration of recreational and utility-scale water features that characterize the modern rural landscape in this part of the state.