2014 Map of Heath Valley

About this map

Sam R. McKelvie National Forest occupies the northeastern corner of this landscape, where the sandhills terrain of Cherry County meets a series of isolated basins and seasonal water bodies. This 2014 survey captures a sparsely populated interior region characterized by its namesake Heath Valley and the adjacent Cutcomb Valley. The hydrology of the area is defined by small, landlocked lakes such as Shaup Lake, Goose Lake, and the distinctly named Schoolhouse Lake. These features, along with the drainage of Steer Cr, suggest a ranching landscape where water access dictated the placement of early improvements and boundary lines. Further north, the terrain transitions into broad, level expanses including Hutch Jack Flat and Trickle Flat, providing a detailed view of the localized naming conventions used by generations of inhabitants in this part of the Nebraska Sandhills.