2011 Map of Signal Butte

About this map

Fort Peck Lake dominates the western edge of this landscape, its indented shoreline giving way to the high, broken plains of Valley County. In the eastern portion of the quadrangle, Signal Butte stands as a prominent landmark above a network of drainage features including Swallow Nest Spring and Rough Sheep Creek. The map documents a sparsely populated ranching environment, centered on the Cole Ranch and the intricate coulees that feed into the lake, such as Bog Coulee and White Horse Coulee. This 2011 survey captures the hydrological complexity of the Missouri River basin's tributaries, showing how seasonal drainages like Cattle Creek and the East Fork Crooked Creek define the movements of both water and livestock across the prairie.