1965 Map of West Alkali Reservoir

About this map

Water management in the arid landscape of Phillips County dominates this 1965 survey, which was conducted as part of the Department of the Interior program for the development of the Missouri River Basin. The terrain is defined by an intricate network of drainage channels, notably Black Coulee and its North and South Forks in the north, and West Alkali Creek which feeds into the West Alkali Reservoir. The map documents several man-made water features essential for regional livestock and agriculture, such as Williams Coulee Reservoir, Reservoir No 161, and the aptly named Partnership Reservoir. Topographic details include several Gravel Pits and the spillway elevations for the various dams. The landscape transitions into the Rudolph area in the south, where Rudolph Coulee and Fourmile Creek flow toward Wild Horse Creek, illustrating the complex watershed system of the Montana plains during the mid-twentieth century.