1986 Map of Fish Dam

About this map

Ayers Ranch Colony serves as a primary point of human settlement in this central Montana landscape, situated near the confluence of several vital watercourses. The drainage patterns of Alkali Creek, Chippewa Creek, and Fords Creek define the undulating terrain of Fergus County, while the North Fork Mc Donald Creek flows past the small settlement. An adjacent Cem and Grain Bins suggest the long-standing agricultural and community roots of the ranching area. Evidence of former industrial infrastructure is visible through the Old Railroad Grade that cuts across the land, marking a time when rail transport connected these reaches of the plains. Local landmarks like the Fish Dam provide specific points of interest for those studying the water management and rural development of the region during the mid-1980s.