2017 Map of Mud Buttes NW

About this map

Watson Draw and the broad drainage of the Williston Basin define this section of the South Dakota rangeland. This 2017 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey illustrates a landscape shaped by intermittent watercourses and a sparse but essential network of ranching roads. The map captures the hydrological patterns of several tributaries, including Lonetree Cr, Big Cr, and Owl Cr, which carve through the terrain toward larger basins. Named landmarks like Opossum Hollow and local routes such as Yankley Ranch Rd and Albion Rd provide specific geographical context for this part of Butte County. The presence of the MDU Loop and Williston Cutoff Rd highlights the intersection of modern infrastructure with the expansive, low-density pastoral character of the northwestern Great Plains.