1977 Map of Newell Lake

About this map

Newell Lake serves as a focal point in this 1970s landscape of Butte County, where the transition between natural watercourses and engineered irrigation is clearly visible. The terrain is defined by several intermittent streams, including Butte Creek and Dry Creek, which give way to an extensive network of water management features in the southern portion of the quadrangle. This sophisticated irrigation system, essential for agriculture in western South Dakota, is mapped in detail through the North Canal and various named branches such as the Coyote Lateral, Deadman Lateral, and Town Site Lateral. The presence of the Picnic Area near the lake's eastern shore indicates the dual-purpose nature of the reservoir for both utility and local recreation. For researchers of the region's hydraulic history, the map provides a precise layout of how the North Canal feeds into secondary channels like the Deer Creek Lateral.