2024 Map of Little Bear Lake

About this map

Winnett Irrigation County Ditch winds across this Petroleum County landscape, illustrating the critical role of water management in Montana's ranching and agricultural history. The terrain is defined by a network of drainage systems, including McDonald Creek, Buffalo Creek, and the distinctive northern waters of Little Bear Lake. While primarily open rangeland, the map reveals human imprints through corridors like Cemetery Rd and the township lines of the Public Land Survey System. Variations in the landscape are marked by Whites Coulee and Box Elder Creek, showing how the local topography funnels seasonal water through this arid region. The presence of the irrigation ditch highlights the intersection of natural hydrology and engineering necessary for settlement and sustained land use in the plains south of the Missouri River.