Loading map...

1985 Map of Medicine Lake

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Medicine Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Medicine Creek winds through a landscape defined by its depressions and dunes in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills. This 1985 provisional survey captures a region where life centers on isolated ranching outposts such as Broken Box Ranch and Rocking J Ranch, situated among a network of natural basins. The hydrology of the area is particularly prominent, featuring a cluster of water bodies including Medicine Lake, Willow Lake, and Moon Lake, which suggest the high water table characteristic of this unique prairie ecosystem.

The southeastern portion of the map is marked by the distinct landform of Cutcomb Valley, while smaller basins like Weed Lake and Gus Lake dot the northern interior. The sparse distribution of named features and lack of established towns underscore the vast, open nature of Cherry County during the late twentieth century. For researchers, the map provides a clear record of land use and water resources in a region where geography dictated the patterns of human settlement.