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2015 Map of McDermotts Butte

Name: 2015 Topographic Map of McDermotts Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2015
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2015

About this map

McDermotts Butte stands as a prominent landmark in this high-desert landscape along the border of Big Horn and Washakie Counties. The map reveals an intricate network of water management features essential for the region's ranching and agricultural operations, including Avent Ditch and a series of numbered storage sites such as Bonanza Reservoir Number 1 and Bonanza Reservoir Number 2. These structures, alongside the Nowood River, illustrate how the arid terrain has been adapted for use through decades of irrigation development.

Evidence of early settlement is preserved at Bonanza Cem near the Bonanza Seeps, marking a small human footprint in a territory otherwise defined by topographic features like Rattlesnake Ridge. The road network, including Bonanza Rd and Rattlesnake Ridge Rd, connects these remote water sources and landmarks, providing a clear view of the rural infrastructure in place during the early 21st century.