2021 Map of Five Points

About this map

Oglala National Grassland dominates this section of Sioux County, where a complex network of seasonal drainages and local reservoirs defines the landscape. The namesake locality of Five Points sits at a junction of high-elevation terrain, surrounded by a series of engineered water catchments such as Eberspecher Reservoir, Wickersham Reservoir, and Staudenmaier Reservoir. These features, often bearing local family names like Serres and Coffee Reservoir, illustrate the critical importance of water management in this arid Nebraska territory. Navigational routes like Orella Rd and Martin Trail Rd cut through the dissected plateaus, while deep incisions like Bears Canyon and the winding course of Jim Cr reveal the erosive history of the plains. This survey provides a look at the interplay between modern ranching infrastructure and the protected federal lands of the northern Great Plains.