1989 Map of Peter Long Lake

About this map

Peter Long Lake and a series of wind-carved depressions define this pocket of the Nebraska Sandhills in Sheridan County. The landscape is characterized by its internal drainage and numerous alkaline or freshwater lakes, including Potmesil Lake and Snow Lake, which sit amidst undulating sand dunes. Ranching is the primary footprint of human activity, represented by scattered homesteads and headquarters such as Joy Ranch in the north and the Panhandle Ranch near the center of the quadrangle. These operations are connected by a network of 4 WD trails, reflecting the isolation and specialized land use of the region during the late 1980s. The naming of smaller bodies of water like Nye Lake and Conley Lake suggests the importance of these water sources to local families and livestock in an otherwise arid grazing environment.