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2021 Map of McDermotts Butte

Name: 2021 Topographic Map of McDermotts Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2021
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2021

About this map

McDermotts Butte stands as a prominent landmark in this arid stretch of the Bighorn Basin, marking a landscape defined by seasonal water management and early ranching infrastructure. The map details a complex network of reservoirs, including Bonanza Reservoir Number 1, Bonanza Reservoir Number 2, and Bonanza Reservoir Number 3, which support the livestock and agricultural needs of this high-desert environment. These water sources are complemented by historic irrigation efforts such as Avent Ditch and the Upper Hanover Canal.

Evidence of the area's human history is anchored by the Bonanza Cem located near the Nowood River, serving as a silent record of the families who settled this territory between Deadman Gulch and Durphy Gulch. The transportation network is built upon local routes like Rattlesnake Ridge Rd and the Sand Creek Trail Rd, tracing the movement of people and livestock across the county line between Big Horn and Washakie counties.