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1985 Map of Windmill Lake

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Windmill Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Samuel R McKelvie National Forest and the expansive Merritt Reservoir dominate this mid-1980s Nebraska landscape. The map illustrates a transitional environment where the managed waters of the reservoir, including the Cedar Bay area, meet the characteristic hydrology of the Sandhills. The drainage patterns are defined by the winding courses of Boardman Creek and Gordon Creek, which navigate through a complex topography of dunes and depressions like Swanson Swamp.

Remote ranching operations provide the primary evidence of human settlement in this sparsely populated region. For genealogists and local historians, the specific locations of the Stetter Ranch, McLeod Ranch, and Piercy Ranch offer essential data points for tracing land use and family holdings during this era. The map also highlights the Merritt Reservoir State Wildlife Management Area, indicating the region's importance for conservation and outdoor recreation near Windmill Lake.