1949 Map of Johnson Lake

About this map

The Fort Peck Indian Reservation spans the western portion of this landscape, its boundary defined by the winding course of Big Muddy Creek. This 1949 survey, updated with photo-revisions in the late 1980s, captures the eastern edge of the reservation where it meets the wetlands of the Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The terrain is characterized by the hydrological network of Johnson Lake, Homestead Lake, and several seasonal watercourses including Sheep Creek and Sand Creek. A small Dam and a Gravel Pit appear as the few industrial or engineering modifications to the rural prairie. The map provides a detailed view of the Missouri River Basin development era, showing the relationship between protected federal lands and the intricate drainage patterns that define Roosevelt County.