1984 Map of Rocky Butte Gulch

About this map

The Belle Fourche River winds through the northwestern corner of this Campbell County landscape, defining a terrain shaped by seasonal water management and ranching needs during the late 1970s and early 1980s. This drainage basin is characterized by ephemeral watercourses and small-scale impoundments like the Rock Butte No 2 Reservoir and the Marquiss Reservoir, which were essential for sustaining livestock in this semi-arid environment. The topography is deeply incised by the eponymous Rocky Butte Gulch, which trends southwest through the heart of the quadrangle. Further south and east, the map traces the headwaters of Hay Creek and its West Fork Hay Creek, alongside Billie Creek. A rare permanent water source, Red Spring, appears in the southeastern section, marking a vital landmark in a territory otherwise defined by dry gulches and intermittent flows.