2011 Map of Finger Buttes West

About this map

Finger Buttes rises as a prominent landmark in this southeastern Montana landscape, overlooking a complex system of drainage and water management. The area is defined by its intermittent watercourses and small-scale ranching infrastructure, featuring numerous named water control structures such as the McKnight Number 1 Dam and Dye Number 1 Dam along Hay Creek. These small reservoirs suggest a landscape managed for livestock and seasonal water retention, characteristic of the high plains. Extensive creek systems including North Butte Creek, Hawksnest Creek, and Prairie Dog Creek lattice the terrain, while Tauck Rd provides the primary transit artery through the quadrangle. The map captures a moment in the early 21st century when this part of Carter County maintained its traditional rural character, centered around the natural landmarks and essential water sources like Sidney Reservoir Dam.