Land Surveying for Forestry: Connecting Boundaries and Management Plans in Wisconsin

1. Land Surveying as it Relates to Forestry Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors-Central Chapter UWSP Treehaven Facility Tomahawk, WI July 9th, 2013

2. Presenters: • Chris Fieri • Registration: - Licensed as a Registered Land Surveyor in Wisconsin • Education: - Land Surveying Technician – Nicolet College • Current Employment: - Registered Land Surveyor – Riverside Land Surveying, LLC in Weston, WI  - Current Vice President of WSLS - Central Chapter • Experience Summary: - 10 years of experience in property boundaries, subdivisions plats, construction layout, section remonumentation surveys.

3. Presenters: • Jay Dick • Registration: - Wisconsin Registered Land Surveyor • Education: - Land Surveying – Nicolet College - Surveying Engineering – Michigan Tech • Current Employment: - Marathon County Surveying Technician & Town Board Supervisor, Town of King, Lincoln County  - Side note: Treehaven is in my town • Experience Summary: - 18yrs of exp. in boundary surveying, topographic surveying, subdivision design & construction layout, and PLSS remonumetation.

4. Presenters: • Ted Sommer • Registration: - Wisconsin Registered Land Surveyor #2964 • Education: - Forestry & Wildlife / Natural Resource Technology Degree – Vermilion CC - Land Surveying Degree – Nicolet College • Current Employment: - Land Surveyor and Forester – Steigerwaldt Land Services, Tomahawk  • Experience Summary: - 12 years of Natural Resource related experience in both the public and private sector as Logger; NRCS Conservation Technician; Project Forester Technician with Clark County; Land Surveying Tech, Forester, and Wildland Firefighter with the US Forest Service - Current President of Northern Lakes Chapter of WSLS - Regularly performs surveys in conjunction with Timber Sales and other Natural Resource related projects

5. Overview • How Land Surveying relates to Forestry • PLSS system and other Surveying terms • Proper methods of researching records • Accuracy of equipment new and old • Field reconnaissance • Establish lines • Problems and Disagreements/Resolutions • Questions and Answers

6. How Land Surveying relates to Forestry • Harvesting the timber from public and private lands by setting up timber sales • Establishing Cutting Lines along approximate boundary lines • Management plans in relationship to property boundaries

7. PLSS System • Why do we have the PLSS system • Simplified way to dispose of public land • Fundraising mechanism for newly formed government • Simplified system to identify new boundary lines • Fence rolls come in 1320’ (length of a “40”) • Measurements • Chains- 1 chain to 66 feet • 80 chains to mile • Rods- 1 rod to 16.5 feet • Link- 100 links to chain • Mile- 1 mile to 5280 feet

8. PLSS System • Sections, Townships, Ranges and (Town, Village or City) • Section • 1 Mile by 1 Mile with 8 corners set at ½ mile around the exterior • Sections are not 5280 feet and not N, S, E, W. • Fractional Sections • “40’s” and Government Lot

9. Section, Township, Range

10. PLSS System • Boundary Lines, Property Lines, and Occupation Lines • They do not mean the same thing but they can be the same location.

11. Section Closing Corners

12. Section Breakdowns

13. Survey Crew-1892

14. Survey Crew

15. Proper Methods of Researching • Plat Books • Online • GIS Mapping • Wisconsin State Cartographers Office • Register of Deeds Office • Deeds and Subdivisions • Property Description • County Land Surveyors Office · Tiesheets and Plats of Survey

16. Plat Book Page

17. GIS Mapping

18. GIS Mapping Considerations • Public On-line GIS maps are excellent sources of general property information • Public On-line GIS maps are NOT SURVEYS • On-line parcel mapping have inherent inaccuracies • Coordinates generated from on-line GIS sources may or may not be tied to actual surveyed coordinates • Air photos as represented on On-line GIS sources may have large shifts from actual locations

20. Accuracy of Equipment Old and New • Compass and Tape • Electric Distance Meter with a transit • Total Stations • GPS • Handheld (30 foot accuracy) • Standard • Meter • Sub-meter • GIS grade • Survey Grade (0.04 foot accuracy)

21. Handheld GPS

22. RTK GPS

23. Field Reconnaissance • Figure out your location and plan • Look for monuments, improvements, and evidences • Section Corners • Fences • Tree lines • Gather all the evidences before marking

24. Section Corner Field Verification

25. Section Corner Field Verification

26. Section Corner Search

27. When is it appropriate to request a survey? • If you are going to cut up to a property/ possession line. • Make improvement at or near a property line. • At the time of a real-estate transaction. • If anything is in question.

28. What is the basis of cost for a survey? • Terrain • Vegetation, topography, and ease of access • Survey Records • Previous surveys available • PLSS corner maintenance • Location of courthouse • Online records • Use of technology • Cell phone coverage • GPS vs. Conventional

29. Marking the “Cut” line • Use good judgment • Talk to all the property owners • If the cut line is questionable ……stop. • Make owner aware that the cut line is not the boundary line • If the owners don’t agree get a land surveyor involved

30. Fence Lines

31. Problems and Disagreements/Resolutions • Once the line is marked it effects all of the surrounding property owners • Fences • Line fence • Cattle fence • Uneducated land owners • When the cut line is not agreed upon all parties get a Land Surveyor involved. • Professional opinion • Consequences

32. Land Surveying

33. Questions and Answers Thank you