Loading map...

2013 Map of Modale

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Modale
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Missouri River oxbows and drainage canals dominate this borderland between Iowa and Nebraska, where the river's shifting course has left behind complex water features. The settlement of Blair sits on the western bluffs, while the eastern floodplain is managed through an extensive network of ditches including Modale Ditch, Youngs Ditch, and Cameron Ditch. These engineering efforts support the agricultural communities of Modale and California Junction.

Recreational and conservation sites are scattered along the water, notably at DeSoto Lake and the Cottonwood Marina. The map captures the specialized geography of the river valley, from the California Cutoff and Tysons Bend to several upland water storage features like Jensen Reservoir and Henricksen Reservoir. This 2013 survey provides a detailed look at the interface between the river's natural hydrology and the human infrastructure required to inhabit the fertile bottomlands.