2011 Map of Rudie Coulee

About this map

Little Porcupine Creek and its complex network of seasonal tributaries define this section of Rosebud County, Montana, where the ranching economy is etched into the landscape through dozens of small-scale water management projects. The 2011 topography shows a distinct pattern of land use centered on earthen dams and reservoirs, including the Hanson Company Number 5 Dam, Ulmer Lake Dam, and multiple structures bearing the Standish name. These features suggest a history of coordinated livestock management across the drainage basins of Rudie Coulee and Wildcat Coulee. Sparse infrastructure like Little Porcupine Rd and Road 124 provide the only major access points through this dry, dissected prairie. The naming conventions of the dams, such as VT Number 1 Dam and US Number 3 Dam, reflect the systematic development of water resources in this part of the state.