2017 Map of Rice Lake NW

About this map

The rolling pothole prairie of Ward County is meticulously documented in this 2017 survey, where a complex network of seasonal wetlands and small water bodies dominates the terrain. Lloyds Coulee in the northeast corner serves as one of the few named drainage features in this glaciated landscape, which is otherwise defined by an exacting grid of section lines and gravel roads. Local travel is facilitated by a numbered grid including 4th Ave NW, 20th Ave SW, and Co Hwy 11, reflecting the organized agricultural township structure of North Dakota’s interior. The map illustrates the persistent intersection of modern rural infrastructure with the natural depressions of the Drift Prairie, providing a clear view of land use patterns at the start of the 21st century.