2017 Map of Watford City NW

About this map

Lake Sakakawea dominates the northern reaches of this McKenzie County landscape, where the waters of Wild Cow Bay meet the dissected uplands of the Missouri Plateau. This 2017 survey illustrates the complex drainage patterns of the region, specifically where Tobacco Garden Cr winds through the southern townships before heading toward the Missouri River system. The interior is defined by a sparse but structured network of section-line roads, including Co Rd 29 and Co Rd 31, which provide access to the high, rolling ranchlands and prairie between the lake and the more developed corridors to the south. The absence of concentrated settlements highlights the rural character of this portion of North Dakota, focusing instead on the topographic variations and water features that dictate land use in the badlands-fringe environment.