2024 Map of Shell Creek Bay

About this map

Lake Sakakawea dominates this section of Mountrail County, where the sprawling waters of the Van Hook Arm and Shell Creek Bay meet the undulating prairie landscape. The area is defined by the significant hydrological impact of the Garrison Dam downstream, which transformed the original valley of Shell Creek into a massive reservoir system. Near the northern shoreline, the Van Hook Cem remains as a poignant landscape marker of the former townsite of Van Hook, which was relocated during the mid-20th century flooding of the Missouri River valley. The surrounding terrain is characterized by intricate coulees and drainage patterns, including the East Fork Shell Creek, illustrating the complex intersection of modern water management and the region's historic topography. Section lines and rural routes like 39th St NW and 79th Ave NW provide the grid for current land use in this lakeside environment.