In June 1949, the U. S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the State Engineer of Nevada, as part of the State-wide ground-water studies, drilled a test well on the flood plain of the Humboldt River about 4 miles northeast of Battle Mountain. This well was drilled for the purpose of obtaining information concerning the geologic and hydrologic character of the sediments underlying the flood plain, and the quality of the water in those sediments.