1972 Map of Stinking Coulee

About this map

Water management and topography define this Dawson County landscape during the early 1970s. The region is characterized by a complex drainage system where Stinking Coulee and Kelley Coulee intersect with larger waterways like Lower Sevenmile Creek and the North Fork Deer Creek. These drainage patterns reflect the essential role of water in this semi-arid environment, evidenced by livestock-related infrastructure such as Dickerson Dam and Kubesh Dam. Notable elevation markers like Twin Buttes and the flat-topped Table rise above the surrounding creek beds, while the presence of scattered drill holes suggests a landscape surveyed for its mineral potential. The map provides a look at the rural configuration of the High Plains before modern industrial shifts, showing the winding routes of Horse Creek and its East Fork through the dissected terrain.