1984 Map of Hinsdale NW

About this map

The Milk River meanders sharply through this Valley County landscape, creating a complex network of oxbows and flood-control infrastructure. This 1984 provisional survey highlights the vital water management systems used in this part of Montana, specifically the South Nelson Canal and the protective Nelson Levee. The confluence of diverse water sources is evident as Beaver Creek winds through the southern portion of the quadrangle, flanked by distinctive landforms such as Martin Coulee and McNab Coulee. The map illustrates how human engineering, such as various irrigation ditches, has been laid over the natural drainage patterns of the Missouri River basin to support the agricultural needs of the region during the late 1970s and early 1980s.