2017 Map of Lower Brule NW

About this map

The Big Bend of the Missouri dominates this central South Dakota landscape, where the Missouri River executes a massive horseshoe loop. Much of this dramatic bend is now occupied by the waters of Lake Sharpe, a reservoir formed following mid-century damming projects. The topography is defined by the dissection of the high plains into the river valley, with drainages like Joe Cr, Chaney Rush Cr, and Arrowhead Spring Cr carving deep draws into the surrounding bluffs. Human presence is scattered across the uplands, primarily organized by a grid of rural routes such as Carmody Rd and Westbend Rd. The intersection of multiple county lines—including Hughes, Hyde, and Lyman—within the river's path highlights the historical importance of this waterway as a natural and political boundary.