1970 Map of Patch Skin Buttes

About this map

Patch Skin Buttes and the surrounding high plains of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation dominate this landscape during the early 1970s. The map captures a transition in the Missouri River Basin, where the southeastern corner is marked by the presence of Lake Oahe, showing areas subject to controlled inundation. The terrain is defined by isolated topographic rises like Coffee Butte and Twin Buttes, while the drainage system is shaped by seasonal watercourses such as Buffalo Creek and Bird Creek. These features are indicative of the semi-arid ranching country of Dewey County, where water sources like a Flowing Well and localized Spring sites were critical landmarks for land management and navigation across the reservation.