2011 Map of McCarthy Lake

About this map

The Nebraska Sandhills define this landscape, a region of high-plains wetlands and isolated cattle operations. Named for the central body of water, McCarthy Lake sits amidst a network of depressions that form numerous lakes, including Blue Stem Lake, Sturgeon Lake, and Home Valley Lake. The human footprint here is sparse, characterized by long-established family ranching operations such as Thompson Ranch, Hague Ranch, and the Nine Over Nine Ranch. Transport is limited to unpaved ranch tracks and the Alliance Refuge Rd, which skirts the southeastern corner of the quadrangle. The hydrography suggests a seasonal or groundwater-fed system, with smaller features like Cane Lake and Johnson Lake dotting the drainages between the low, sandy ridges that dominate this part of Garden County.