2011 Map of Ziegele Coulee

About this map

Ziegele Coulee and Willis Coulee carve through the dry landscape of Garfield County, defining a region where water management is central to the land's utility. The drainage system is heavily influenced by intermittent waterways like Sand Creek and its tributary Long Branch. A sophisticated network of small-scale infrastructure is visible throughout the area, evidenced by numerous named earthen structures such as the Big Railroad Reservoir Dam, Tom Number 2 Dam, and Weeding Number 3 Dam. These features, alongside others like the Southerland Lacosta Dam, reflect a history of ranching and resource conservation in a territory where seasonal runoff is carefully captured for agricultural use. The map reveals the sparse road network and the isolation typical of eastern Montana's plains.