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2020 Map of Lightning Butte

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Lightning Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

Lightning Butte rises from the high plains of Powder River County, defining a landscape shaped by intermittent drainage and the ranching economy. The area is characterized by a complex network of seasonal watercourses, including Lightning Creek, Pilgrim Creek, and Cabin Creek, which flow through deeply cut draws and coulees. Evidence of land management and water conservation is prominent through named infrastructure such as Vannett Reservoir, Moody Reservoir, and the CCC Reservoir, the latter suggesting a legacy of public works projects in this stretch of Montana.

Topographical markers provide navigation and local identity across the rangeland, from Buffalo Butte in the north to Pine Butte in the southeast. Named coulees like West Ainsworth and East Ainsworth break the terrain, while specific family or landmark names attached to water sources, such as Jacobson Springs Draw and McKenzie Spring Draw, offer valuable points of reference for genealogists and local historians tracing land use in the T4S and T5S townships.