1969 Map of Four Bear Creek

About this map

The Missouri River Basin development program shaped this 1960s landscape, where the waters of Lake Oahe Missouri River have transformed the river valley into a series of expansive inlets. The Cheyenne River Indian Reservation Boundary runs through the center of the water, separating Dewey County from Potter County. Numerous named bays such as Buffalo Bay, Steamboat Bay, and Dodge Bay reach into the surrounding prairie, marking where the rising lake inundated the lower reaches of local drainages like Four Bear Creek and Buffalo Creek. This topography illustrates the early years of the Oahe Dam project's impact on the local geography. Beyond the water, the map identifies ranching-era details including a Gravel Pit and an extensive network of unchecked fence and field lines in the North Riverside and South Riverside areas.