2017 Map of Windmill Lake

About this map

The Samuel R McKelvie National Forest dominates the northern reaches of this Cherry County landscape, preserving a distinct portion of the Nebraska Sandhills. The terrain is defined by an intricate network of hydrology, most notably the expansive Merritt Reservoir and its eastern inlet at Cedar Bay. This area, characterized by its specialized prairie ecosystem and stabilizing vegetation, shows a complex drainage pattern where seasonal wetlands and smaller water bodies like Windmill Lake and Swanson Swamp punctuate the depressions between dunes. Waterways such as Boardman Cr and Gordon Cr meander through the southern half of the quadrangle, illustrating the vital role of surface water in this arid ranching and conservation region. The map captures the interface between managed forest lands and the open, water-dotted plains typical of north-central Nebraska.