2011 Map of Maxwell Coulee

About this map

Van Norman serves as the primary junction in this Garfield County landscape, where the vast drainage systems of the eastern Montana plains intersect. The area is defined by an intricate network of seasonal watercourses and coulees, including Maxwell Coulee, Carcass Coulee, and Seven Tree Coulee, which feed into the larger Big Dry Creek and Kelly Creek basins. This 2011 survey documents a specialized hydraulic landscape engineered for water management in an arid environment. A series of earthen structures, such as the Wild Horse Reservoir Dam, USA Reservoir Number 2 Dam, and Rosa Spring Dam Number 1, illustrate the vital role of water storage for local agriculture and livestock. The naming conventions, from Jock Coulee to Peden Coulee, reflect the family-based geography common to the high plains, providing a precise record of historical land use and topographical identification.