2012 Map of Savo SE

About this map

The low-lying hydrology of Brown County dominates this landscape, where the Mud Lake Reservoir and Columbia Road Reservoir gather water in a shallow drainage basin. These reservoirs, part of the James River watershed, reflect the modern water management efforts in this part of South Dakota. The surrounding terrain is organized by a strict cardinal grid of rural roads, including 393rd Ave and 397th Ave, typical of the Section Land system. While largely open and agricultural, the map reveals the subtle elevation changes near the water bodies, defined by a network of numbered section lines such as 106th St and 110th St. This 2012 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey provides a precise view of the rural infrastructure and prairie wetlands just after the turn of the twenty-first century.