2011 Map of Phillips Butte

About this map

Phillips Butte and Diamond Butte define the topography of this cattle-country landscape in Powder River County, Montana. The land is characterized by an extensive system of natural springs and managed water catchments essential for ranching, including the Lyon Creek Divide Reservoir and Elk Creek Reservoir Number One. Numerous smaller features such as Mud Turtle Spring, Schwind Spring, and Coal Mine Spring suggest the location of historic watering holes and small-scale resource extraction. The drainage network is anchored by Lyon Creek and the forks of North Fork and South Fork Elk Creek, while Bonnette Rd provides one of the few named transit corridors through this open range. This 2011 survey documents a modern snapshot of a working landscape where water rights and terrain dictate the pattern of human activity.