1984 Map of Mc Laren Reservoir

About this map

The agricultural and hydrological landscape of Blaine County is defined by the complex water management systems found on this 1984 provisional survey. At the center of the sheet, Mc Laren Reservoir and Holm Reservoir serve as vital catchment points within a terrain marked by deep coulees and seasonal drainages. The most significant engineering feature is the North Chinook Irrigation Canal, which diverts water across the prairie to support local ranching and farming operations. The map records a sparsely populated region where life follows the natural contours of Lodge Creek and Battle Creek. Researchers of Montana's water history will find interest in the connectivity between North Chinook Reservoir and the network of coulees like Thibadeau Coulee and Hay Coulee that drain the high plains, illustrating the careful orchestration of water rights and land use in this arid environment.