2014 Map of White Willow Lake

About this map

The North Loup River meanders across this northern section of the Nebraska Sandhills, a landscape defined more by its hydrologic network than by human settlement. This 2014 survey reveals an intricate cluster of lakes and basins, including the namesake White Willow Lake and Red Willow Lake, which sit at the heart of this sparsely populated region. The terrain is characterized by stabilized dunes that hold numerous wetlands, from the larger Jack Rabbit Lake and Little Alkali Lake to smaller isolated features like Tree Lake and Burr Lake. Human infrastructure is limited to a handful of unpaved thoroughfares such as Coble Rd and Phipps Rd, indicating a territory primarily dedicated to ranching and conservation. To the south, Calf Cr provides further drainage for this distinct prairie ecosystem, which remains one of the most intact grassland environments in the United States.