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1956 Map of Rousseau Creek SW

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Rousseau Creek SW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The Cheyenne River winds through this mid-century landscape on the border of Dewey and Stanley Counties, providing a critical water source for the livestock operations of the South Dakota plains. Family-held lands like Holloway Ranch and Chisholm Ranch are anchored near the riverbanks, while the High Elk Ranch sits further south. The map documents an important transition for the Missouri River Basin; areas along the river are marked to be submerged by the future Oahe Reservoir at an elevation of 1620 feet, signaling the coming change to this riparian environment.

Upland features such as Little Flats and Rich Flats break the drainages of Fishgut Creek, Sage Creek, and Paradise Creek. The Indian Reservation Boundary cuts across the river valley, while a long Fence Line in the northern sections indicates the managed grazing patterns of the era. Remote landmarks like Kid Rich Spring and Minneconjou Creek further illustrate the localized geography used by ranchers before the valley was altered by flood control projects.