1989 Map of Skunk Lake NW

About this map

The Niobrara River winds across the northern reaches of this landscape, carving a distinct valley through the Nebraska High Plains. This 1989 provisional study documents an era of managed water resources in the Nebraska Panhandle, specifically within the Sheridan Co and Box Butte Co borderlands. The intricate network of irrigation is visible through the Sturgeon Canal and multiple branches of the Lateral system and Drain lines, which divert water from the river to support local agriculture. The terrain shifts from the river valley to the winding path of Box Butte Creek in the south, reflecting a landscape defined by its hydrology and small-scale resource extraction, such as the isolated Gravel Pit.