1966 Map of North Emblem Reservoir

About this map

North Emblem Reservoir and a series of smaller impoundments like Cleopatra Reservoir and Caesar Reservoir define the water management of this Big Horn County landscape during the mid-1960s. This orthophotomap reveals a highly industrial character, marked by extensive Bentonite Mines and numerous Oil Wells scattered across the township lines. The terrain is deeply carved by drainage systems including Dry Creek, East Fork Sand Draw, and Lovell Draw, illustrating the relationship between natural geography and the extraction of mineral resources. A prominent Pipeline and U.S. Route 310 provide the primary infrastructure for this active energy and mining district, while the presence of several isolated drill holes suggests an era of continued subsurface exploration.