2011 Map of Stinking Coulee

About this map

The high plains of Dawson County are defined here by an intricate drainage system feeding into Lower Sevenmile Creek and the headwaters of Horse Creek. This landscape is characterized by the practical infrastructure of 21st-century Montana ranching, where small-scale water management features like Iehl Dam, Brain Dam, and Dickerson Dam dot the draws and coulees. These man-made features highlight the necessity of water storage in this semi-arid region, supporting the livestock operations that dominate the rural economy. In the western portion of the map, the distinct landforms of Twin Buttes rise above the surrounding terrain, while the namesake Stinking Coulee cuts through the prairie. The map further documents the drainage networks of North Fork Deer Creek and South Fork Deer Creek in the south, illustrating the complex hydrology of the Missouri River watershed in eastern Montana.