2011 Map of Sandpiper Reservoir

About this map

Bullwhacker Coulee carves a dominant path through this portion of Blaine County, defining a landscape of intermittent drainages and essential water storage in the early 21st century. The map reveals the critical role of ranching infrastructure in this arid environment, marked by isolated points of permanent water like Sandpiper Reservoir, Bud Reservoir, and the appropriately named Brush Shack Reservoir to the north. Movement through this territory is traced by historic routes and utilitarian ranch roads, including the Cow Island Trl, which skirts the coulees alongside Bullwhacker Rd. The drainage network is particularly intricate here, with the Coal Mine Coulee and Christenson Branch feeding into the larger system, illustrating the complex topography of the Montana plains. This survey provides a precise look at the drainage basins and naming conventions used by local landowners and federal agencies to manage these remote northern reaches.