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1966 Map of Noxon Rapids Dam

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Noxon Rapids Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

Noxon Reservoir dominates the Clark Fork Valley in this 1960s survey, illustrating the landscape transformations brought by the Noxon Rapids Dam. The map documents the relationship between the newly created impoundment and the infrastructure of the Northern Pacific railroad, which skirts the eastern shore. Small settlements like Stevens and Tuscor are visible alongside the river valley, providing points of reference for local historians studying the impacts of hydroelectric development on early 20th-century communities.

Deep within the Kaniksu National Forest, the topography rises sharply from the reservoir toward landmarks like Tuscor Hill and Green Mountain. The network of drainage such as Swamp Creek and McKay Creek feeds into the valley, while established routes like the Green Mountain Trail and various unnamed pack trails crisscross the timbered slopes. This record serves as a precise accounting of the region's geography after the dam's completion, capturing the transition from a river-oriented valley to a reservoir-centric landscape.