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1978 Map of Steele Lake Coulee

Name: 1978 Topographic Map of Steele Lake Coulee
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The boundary between Chouteau Co and Fergus Co defines the southern portion of this high plains landscape, where the deeply incised channel of Arrow Creek winds through the terrain. The topography is dominated by numerous drainage features, or coulees, reflecting the complex water-sculpted geography of north-central Montana in the late 1970s. Key water-holding features such as Steele Lake and the prominent Arrow Creek Bench provided critical landmarks for land management and cattle ranching in this open country.

Evidence of human activity is scattered throughout the survey, from the named Gravel Pits in the center of the quadrangle to a network of fence lines and section boundaries. A series of family-named drainages, including Wilson Coulee, Fahlgren Coulee, Engellant Coulee, and Miller Coulee, suggests a history of local land use and homesteading. These detailed labels provide valuable data for researchers tracing family ties to specific Montana ranges and coulees.