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2012 Map of Bristol Well

Name: 2012 Topographic Map of Bristol Well
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2012
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2012

About this map

Bristol Well serves as a focal point for this arid Lincoln County landscape, where water sources dictate the patterns of human and animal life. This 2012 survey traces a network of intermittent drainages including Silverhorn Wash, Scotty Wash, and the extensive Fairview Wash, which winds through the basin floor towards Dry Lake Reservoir and Middle Reservoir. These features underscore the importance of catchments and natural springs in the high desert, with Blind Mountain Spring providing a critical water point at the southeastern edge of the quadrangle.

Terrain is dominated by the elevations of the West Range and the passage through Bristol Pass to the northeast. The broad expanse of Bristol Valley occupies the southern half of the map, illustrating the vast open spaces typical of Nevada's basin and range topography. For the modern researcher or genealogist, the map documents the sparse infrastructure of roads and isolated water improvements that have supported ranching and transit in this quiet corner of the state for decades.