PLSS Fundamentals & Retracement
PublicPublic Land Survey System principles, corner restoration, and retracement procedures with BLM Manual citations
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Cards (10)
What is the fundamental principle of PLSS retracement?
The original survey is INVIOLATE. Original corners control, regardless of technical defects. Property rights vested based on original survey cannot be changed by resurvey. — BLM Manual 2009 §5-1
What are the three categories of PLSS corners?
1. EXISTENT: Physical evidence identifies the corner 2. OBLITERATED: No physical evidence, but position determinable from other evidence 3. LOST: Position cannot be determined; must be restored — BLM Manual 2009 §5-3, 5-5, 5-7
When is single vs. double proportionate measurement used?
SINGLE: Restore corner ON a line between two existent corners on that line DOUBLE: Restore corner at INTERSECTION of two lines, using four controlling corners — BLM Manual 2009 §5-30, §5-33
How is the center of a section established?
At the intersection of straight lines connecting opposite quarter corners. NOT necessarily the geographic center, especially in fractional sections. — BLM Manual 2009 §5-42
What is a meander line and what does it represent?
A meander line is NOT a boundary. It was run to calculate acreage for sale. The actual boundary is the water body (ordinary high-water mark). — Clark §21.05
What is the difference between a witness corner and a reference corner?
WITNESS CORNER: On the survey line, offset along the line from the true corner REFERENCE CORNER: Off the survey line, not on any surveyed line — BLM Manual 2009 §3-41, §3-43
Which sections contain irregular lots (government lots)?
North tier: Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 West column: Sections 6, 7, 18, 19, 30, 31 Because survey ran S→N, E→W, pushing excess/deficiency to north and west. — BLM Manual 2009 §4-68
What is the hierarchy of corner evidence?
1. Original monument in place 2. Original accessories (bearing trees) 3. Testimony of witnesses 4. Record evidence (field notes, plat) Original monument is CONCLUSIVE. — BLM Manual 2009 §5-17
What is the formula for single proportionate measurement?
Position = (Record Distance to Corner / Total Record Distance) × Total Measured Distance Assumes errors accumulated uniformly along the line. — BLM Manual 2009 §5-30
What are standard Gunter's chain units?
1 chain = 66 feet = 100 links 1 link = 7.92 inches = 0.66 feet 80 chains = 1 mile 10 square chains = 1 acre — BLM Manual 2009