One such oxbow still exists south of Washburn , ND , part of the original Missouri River in an area known as Painted Woods .
Folklore -- or history , depending on one ’ s perspective -- recounts that its name comes from vengeance sought following an encounter between members of the Mandan and Yanktonai Sioux tribes . Both claimed the area and each decreed that “ to meet here was to fight here ”, according to a 2020 Prairie Public Broadcasting “ Dakota Datebook ” story .
In today ’ s world , though , a celebration of sorts occurred in 2024 , marking nearly a decadeand-a-half effort to provide flood protection , improve water quality , enhance fish and wildlife habitat , and provide recreation for hunters , anglers and outdoor enthusiasts of all types . A land dedication was held along a former highway rest area on June 14 .
In today ’ s world , Painted Woods is a N . D . Game and Fish Dept . ( NDGF ) Wildlife Manage-
ment Area ( WMA ). The land tract for the original WMA is technically under the auspices of the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service as mitigation for lost wildlife habitat resulting from construction of Garrison Dam and subsequent flooding of tens of thousands of acres of North Dakota ’ s Missouri River woodlands .
The NDGF has hands-on management of the Painted Woods land tract , which includes a portion of remnant wooded bottomland , Painted Woods Creek , Painted Woods Lake -- the oxbow left by a raging and rampantly overflowing Missouri River centuries ago -- and Merry ’ s Creek below the lake ’ s outlet which flows into the Missouri River .
The problem with all of this scenic and historic area is Painted Woods Creek originates from New John ’ s Lake in neighboring Burleigh County , weaving and winding 37 miles through Burleigh and McLean counties before feeding the lake .
And in today ’ s world , it still floods . In a wet spring and with heavy rains the flooding creek damages crops , creates access and erosion issues for landowners , and wrestles with a weir dam .
In the early 1900s the oxbow known as Painted Woods was an actual lake . Technically , it ’ s one of less than a handful of North Dakota water bodies classified as sovereign land owned by the State of North Dakota . Local folks enjoyed swimming , fishing and gathering at a pavilion for dances near the lake .
“ Dad talked about it being over 40 feet deep in this area ( south end of Painted Woods Lake ),” described Washburn area resident and McLean County Water Resource Board ( Water Board ) Chairman Lynn Oberg .
But , time passes . The lake became choked with cattails and its nearby pavilion long disappeared , even before Garrison Dam ’ s completion .
As a WMA , its provided public
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www . dakotacountrymagazine . com Dakota Country , September 2024 , Page 69