2024 Map of Zempel Lake

About this map

Big Porcupine Creek winds through this portion of Rosebud County, Montana, serving as the primary drainage for a landscape defined by seasonal watercourses and coulees. The map illustrates a ranching-focused rural geography where movement is dictated by the terrain, with roads like Ferguson Ranch Ln and Big Porcupine Rd providing access across the township boundaries of t10n r37e and t9n r37e. The drainage network is particularly dense, featuring the confluence of West Blacktail Creek and East Blacktail Creek as they join the larger system. Significant landforms include several named coulees such as Badland Coulee, Nelson Coulee, and Sun Coulee, which represent the erosional patterns characteristic of this part of the state. This 2024 USGS survey provides a detailed record of the local hydrography and contemporary land use in a region where cattle ranching remains a central part of the rural economy.