2011 Map of Johnson Coulee West

About this map

Nelson Creek and its many offshoots, including Johnson Coulee, Crookers Coulee, and Garfield Coulee, define the drainage patterns of this McCone County landscape. This 2011 survey reveals an environment structured by seasonal water management, where local operations have established infrastructure like the Dreyer Brothers Incorporated Number 1 Dam, Murphy Number 2 Dam, and Hannaland Number 1 Dam. These named impoundments alongside Coal Creek highlight the necessity of water storage for ranching and agriculture in the high plains of eastern Montana. To the north, McDonald Butte provides a significant vertical reference point above the surrounding draws, including Dogtown Coulee and Morris Coulee. The map shows a sparse network of local roads and trails typical of this remote region, where the naming of individual coulees often reflects the lineage and settlement history of the families who managed the land.