1984 Map of Tule Lake

About this map

Tule Lake and its surrounding drainage basin characterize this portion of Blaine County during the mid-1980s. The landscape is defined by the winding paths of Fifteenmile Creek and Coal Creek, which cut through the high plains terrain. This 1984 field-checked survey illustrates a largely open ranching environment, marked by isolated livestock infrastructure such as a Corral and various unimproved trails that connect remote sections of the township. The presence of Threemile Creek in the northeast corner further emphasizes the importance of these seasonal waterways in an arid region where water management and topography dictated the patterns of land use and movement. For those studying the rural development of north-central Montana, the map offers a precise look at the transition between rolling uplands and the creek beds that serve as primary landmarks in this expanse.