2014 Map of Fort Shaw

About this map

Fort Shaw and the surrounding irrigation landscape of the Sun River Valley are documented here in 2014, reflecting a sophisticated network of water management in north-central Montana. The settlement of Fort Shaw sits near the Sun River, accompanied by the Ft Shaw Cem, while the hamlet of Ashuelot occupies a central position beneath the broad Ashuelot Bench. The terrain is characterized by distinct geographical levels like First Bench and deep cuts such as Blackfoot Coulee. A complex system of human engineering is visible throughout the quadrangle, with numerous waterways including the Greenfield S Canal, Birchmeade Canal, and the Sun River Valley Ditch crisscrossing the plains. These features highlight the importance of water rights and agricultural development in this high-plains region, where the Mill Coulee Cr and Adobe Cr provide natural drainage alongside man-made structures like Canal K and the Rocky Reef Canal.