2020 Map of Pearl Lake

About this map

Pearl Lake and Mud Lake characterize this portion of the Missouri Coteau, where the landscape is defined by the high density of prairie potholes and wetlands typical of central North Dakota. This 2020 map of Stutsman County reveals a geography where water management and conservation are central to the landscape, specifically highlighted by the presence of the Stutsman County WPA, a Water Production Area dedicated to preserving habitat for migratory birds. The terrain is organized by a rigid grid of rural section roads, such as 56th Ave SE and 25th St SE, which serve the agricultural operations that surround these vital water bodies. The relationship between the natural drainage patterns and the surveyed section lines illustrates the ongoing balance between prairie wetland conservation and human land use in the Northern Plains.