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1969 Map of Saddle Butte

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Saddle Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Fresno Reservoir dominates this Hill County landscape, where the impounded waters of the Milk River fill a winding valley framed by steep coulees. The terrain is defined by dramatic elevation shifts, particularly around Saddle Butte, which rises as a prominent landmark above the reservoir's northern banks. This 1969 field-checked survey by the U. S. Geological Survey shows a largely rural and hydraulic environment, with underwater contours provided by the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Tracing the drainage patterns reveals a network of intermittent water features including Watson Coulee, Spring Coulee, and the long Chain of Lakes Coulee. The presence of Alkali Lakes and Dry Lake suggests a semi-arid environment where water is seasonal or highly mineralized. Small-scale industrial activity is evidenced by a Gravel Pit and several wells, while a designated Picnic Area on the reservoir shoreline indicates the area's role in local recreation during the late 1960s.