Land Survey Handbook - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

1 Land Survey Handbook Division of Realty National Wildlife Refuge System May 2015 2 LAND Survey Handbook Chapter 1 - Introduction Purpose of the Handbook Objective of the Handbook Scope of the Handbook Chapter 2 - Authority and History Authority and History Overview Federal Authority Cadastral Surveys State Authority Cadastral Surveys Authorities for Land Surveying History of the FWS Land Survey Program Chapter 3 - Organization and Administration Organization and Administration Duties A. Chief Land Surveyor B. Regional Land Surveyor Recruitment and Professional Development Administration A.

2 Survey Funding Sources B. Project Planning Boundary Management Cross Program Coordination Recordkeeping and Data Management Annual Reporting of Accomplishments Land Status Mapping Chapter 4 - Land Acquisition Land Acquisition The Land Acquisition Process Vendor Surveys Chapter 5 Survey Tract Review Survey Tract Review Legal Descriptions Tract Acreage Determination Tract Numbering and Roman Numeral Tracts Evaluating Tract Access Evaluating Encumbrances A. Title Exceptions B. Encroachments Partial Acquisitions Field Inspection Chapter 6 Cadastral Surveys Cadastral Surveys 3 A.

3 Surveys Authorized for Use by the Service B. Surveys Required by DOJ Title Standards C. Surveys Required Prior to Land Acquisition D. Surveys Required After Land Acquisition Steps of a cadastral Survey A. Determine if a Survey is Needed B. Request for Survey C. Request Received D. Project Instructions E. Assignment Instructions F. Additional Research G. Control Survey H. Field Survey I. Monumentation J. Prepare Survey Returns K. Survey Review and Plat Signing L. Filing Access to Private Lands Chapter 7 Boundary Posting Chapter 8 Construction and Maintenance Surveys Construction and Maintenance Overview Roles and Responsibilities A.

4 Project Manager B. Regional Land Surveyor Funding and Management of Construction and Maintenance Projects A. Deferred Maintenance Projects B. Construction Projects C. Advanced Project Planning D. Current Project Scoping Specifications for Control and Topographic Surveys Construction Projects on Non- Service lands A. Partners for Fish and Wildlife B. National Fish Passage Program C. Roles and Responsibilities The Refuge Roads Program Chapter 9 Surveys for Water Resources, Mapping, and Science Overview A. Definitions B. Roles and Responsibilities Water Resources and Water Rights Surveying A.

5 The Water Resources Program 4 B. Water Rights C. Acquiring and Managing State Appropriative Water Rights D. Land Surveyor s Role in Water Resources and Water Rights Controlled Mapping Surveying for Scientific Investigations Chapter 10 Contracting and Agreements Contracting Overview Roles and Responsibilities Contract Process A. Preliminary Planning B. Prepare Statement of Work (SOW) C. Prepare Cost Estimate D. Submit Purchase Request E. Contractor Selection F. Fee Negotiation G. Contract Administration Contractor Selection A. Evaluation Criteria B.

6 Statement of Qualifications C. Solicitation D. Contractor Evaluation Preparing the Contract Package A. Types of Contracts B. Developing the Technical Specifications and Statement of Work C. Dealing with Uncertainties Independent Government Estimate and Contractor s Fee Proposal A. Cost Estimate B. Fee Proposal Contract Administration A. Duties of a Contracting Officers Representative B. Pre-Work Meeting C. Contract Schedule D. Pre-Monumentation Review Inter- and Intra-Agency Agreements A. Inter-Agency Agreements B. Intra-Agency Agreements C. Overhead Charges and Service First Agreements D.

7 Authorities E. Intra-Agency Agreement Process Chapter 1 Introduction What is the purpose of the Land Survey Handbook ? The Land Survey Handbook establishes procedures and guidance on cadastral surveys and other land Survey services required for the management, acquisition, and disposal of Fish and Wildlife ( Service ) lands. The guidance in this Handbook describes the general procedures for the most common types of work Service land surveyors encounter throughout the year. Due to the nature of Survey work and the many different possible scenarios, the Handbook does not provide procedures for all scenarios or land tenure found throughout the United States and its territories.

8 The job of the Service land surveyor is to follow the general guidelines in this Handbook and adapt their Survey situation to meet the intended outcome, while abiding by the applicable Federal and State laws and the Service policies and guidelines in Part 343, Cadastral Surveys and Maps. The National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) Survey team will update this Handbook as needed as policies, professional practices, and technologies change. What are the objectives of this Land Survey Handbook ? This Handbook provides the procedures and guidance to the Regional Land Surveyors (RLS) and staff to perform the Survey Tract Review, cadastral surveys, and other land Survey services necessary to support the mission of the Service .

9 The Handbook also provides land surveyors an overall view of the types of work they must perform, the general procedures they must follow, and the expectations the Service has for their work. It s also intended to serve as a training guide. What is the scope of the Land Survey Handbook ? The Land Survey Handbook covers procedures for land surveys on Service lands. Service lands are any lands where the Service holds fee title, partial interest, or is in the process of acquiring such an interest. Service land surveyors may also support Service programs on non- Service lands. 2 Chapter 2 Authority and History Authority and History.

10 Cadastral surveys for the Service are either authorized under Federal or State authority. Before a Service land surveyor begins any Survey , he/she must determine what the authority is for the Survey . Some cadastral surveys can be conducted under either authority, but usually one is better than the other, and they should not be mixed. Sections and of this Handbook provide guidance on when to use Federal or State authority, and if you can use either authority, whichever is best. The Federal authority for Service land surveys derives from two sources: the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, 16 715 et seq.