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1970 Map of Fresno Dam

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Fresno Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Fresno Reservoir and the Milk River dominate this 1970 snapshot of Hill County, Montana, showing a landscape defined by water management and natural erosion. The Fresno Dam serves as the focal point, creating a sprawling reservoir with distinct features like Kiehns Bay and Spillway infrastructure. The surrounding terrain is deeply incised by numerous coulees, such as Messerschmidt Coulee and Nelson Coulee, which drain the arid highlands into the river valley.

Transportation and industry are concentrated south of the river, where the Burlington Northern railroad runs parallel to a series of gas wells. The small settlement of Burnham sits along these tracks, while the local infrastructure is further marked by a prominent Aqueduct and the South Fresno Road. The map captures a moment when the region's agricultural and energy potential were closely tied to the controlled flow of the Milk River system.