SUR 360, PUBLIC LAND SURVEY SYSTEM Great Basin College, Fall 2012 Course Syllabus August 15, 2012

Transcription

1 SUR 360, PUBLIC LAND SURVEY SYSTEM Great Basin College, Fall 2012 Course Syllabus August 15, 2012 Instructor: Steve Parrish, PLS Reno, NV Office hours: to set appointment Home: (eve) (home) Cell: Class Meeting Time: 5:30-6:45 pm, Tue (Livenet); Texts: Manual of Instructions for the Survey of the Public Lands of the United States 2009, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (Washington: Government Printing Office, 2009). Restoration of Lost or Obliterated Corners & Subdivision of Sections: A Guide for Surveyors; U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1973) - Restoration Guide is optional. Catalog Description: The U. S. Public Land Survey System (PLSS) as described in Official Government Manuals ( ) with emphasis on evidence, both federal and state rules, resurveys, and subdivision of sections. Prerequisite: SUR 261B, RE 104 or permission of instructor. Course Description and Objectives: A detailed course that describes and evaluates the survey procedures contained in the current Manual of Instructions for the Survey of the Public Lands of the United States The history, design, and planning of the rectangular survey system, original surveys, resurveys, dependent resurveys and independent surveys, protection of bona-fide rights, mineral surveys, special surveys, and riparian rights are explained. The importance of the official plats and field notes is presented. The Manual is presented as a guide as opposed to an absolute directive. This course presents a detailed analysis of the U. S. Public Land Survey System (PLSS). The objective is to present a comprehensive study of the history and original surveying procedures of the PLSS. United States Code Annotated (USCA), Title 43, Public Lands is frequently referenced in the Manual and pertinent Sections will be discussed as they apply to Manual concepts and direction. This historical approach will provide an introduction to the basic principles of boundary surveying and the legal considerations and case law used in boundary location analysis particularly as it applies to public lands so prevalent in the western states. Expected course outcomes (objectives): Upon completion of the course, students should meet the following expectations: 1. List the basic specifications used by the original surveyors in surveying the public lands of the United States. 2. Explain the history of the PLSS. 3. Explain the common technical and legal terminology pertaining to the PLSS and the role and application of USCA, Title 43, Public Lands. 4. Describe the procedures employed for laying out and establishing township lines, section lines, and subdivision of sections into aliquot parts. 5. Research and utilize the official records of the PLSS. 6. Recognize the types of monumentation of corners in the PLSS and classify facts in the evaluation of evidence, both written and physical. 7. Describe the preparation of the official field notes and plats of the PLSS. 8. Apply legal principles of the restoration of lost or obliterated corners. 9. Perform various types of surveys and computations specific to the PLSS.

2 Course Syllabus, Page 2 Method of Instruction: Most of the subject material for this course will be presented as lecture, supplemented by examples of official General Land Office (GLO) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) survey and resurvey records, historical reading material, and assignments. Problems will be assigned for both practice (not graded) and as take-home problems that will be graded. In addition, students will complete two (2) typical PLSS survey problems involving research, analysis, opinion, and technical application of PLSS principles. A research project will be required of each student, and will involve research and analysis of an original survey and the subsequent dependent resurvey by the GLO and/or BLM. The project will result in a written paper. Livenet and Interactive Video (IAV) Options: Students have the option of registering for the lecture portion of this course via IAV, or, registering for the discussion portion via Livenet (S01) and viewing the prior weeks IAV portion via streaming video through WebCampus. Students in the IAV portion may also participate in the Livenet session if desired. The IAV lecture will be on Tuesday evenings (7-9:45 pm) and the Livenet discussion will be on Monday evenings (5:30-6:45 pm). On occasion, the instructor may be out of town for the week. Instructions will be provided to both IAV and Livenet students ahead of time as to accessing the lecture and discussion material. Term Project: To pass the course, it is required that each student complete and hand in the Term Project as described hereafter: 1) Portions of an original PLSS township survey and associated field notes will be provided in electronic form (pdf files). This will include lotted and fractional sections. 2) Retracement data will be provided for select section lines identifying the evidence found. 3) The student will be required to evaluate the retracement information, decide the status of each corner (existent, obliterated or lost) and justify your reasons with Manual references and/or from classroom discussions. 4) An aliquot part description of one of the lotted sections will be provided and the student will subdivide the section showing all resulting bearings, distances, coordinates and areas. 5) Original plats and field notes of a Mineral Survey and a Homestead Entry Survey will be provided in electronic form (pdf files). 6) Retracement data will be provided for each metes-and-bounds survey. 7) Certain corners will be identified as found or lost. You will decide what proportionate method to use to reestablish each lost corner and provide the resulting bearings, distances, coordinates and areas. 8) All calculations and resulting values must be shown in a complete and understandable format. The quality of the report will be evaluated for its completeness, clarity, logical development, validity of conclusions, and correctness of calculations. Completing the project with a passing grade (=>70%) is required to pass the course; this is regardless of grades received on other components of the course. Term Project Deadline: 11:59 pm December 9, 2012 Additional reading: There are somewhat limited texts relating specifically to the PLSS, its history, its applications, and its challenges. Most are a repeat of the information contained in the BLM Manuals. Students are encouraged to befriend mentors from the land surveying profession to supplement their learning experience in this PLSS course of study. Several texts and articles will be suggested by the instructor and links to their source or the actual text files will be made available to the student.

3 Course Syllabus, Page 3 Grading: Grading will be based on: Three quizzes (100 points each) Between 6 to 8 take-home assignments (30 to 50 points each) Two PLSS survey problems (50 points each) Term project (200 points) Final examination (100 points) At the end of the semester, the percentage of the points will be calculated, and grades given based on the following categories: A % B % C % D % F - <50% The lower end of each grade category is guaranteed to go no higher. If it seems appropriate, the instructor may lower the break points slightly. +'s or -'s may be attached to grades in borderline cases. A student may receive a W (withdraw) grade only if withdrawal occurs before the end of the thirteenth week (Nov. 24, 2012) of the semester. To withdraw, the student must formally withdraw through student services. If a student does not complete the course, but does not formally withdraw, an F grade will be issued. An I grade for "incomplete" will be given only under the most extenuating circumstances, and only with prior approval of the instructor. Assignment completeness, participation, and attendance will be considered in grading if a student is a "borderline" case. Attendance: Attendance will generally not be taken, except at the first few class meetings. Regular attendance is highly recommended, as those that do not attend regularly will not do well in this course. If it is noted that a student is not attending class (i.e., missing three consecutive classes, missing a quarter or more of all classes), that student may be dropped at any time by the instructor. Poor attendance will also be reflected in the participation grade. Not a Contract: This document does not in any way represent a contract. It is only a summary of how the instructor expects the course to proceed. It may be reasonably changed by the instructor at any time to better fit the needs of the students.

4 Course Syllabus, Page 4 SUR 360, PUBLIC LAND SURVEY SYSTEM GREAT BASIN COLLEGE Course Outline, Fall 2012 Tuesday, 5:30-6:45 pm (Livenet Section S01 via WebCampus - Internet) Text: Manual of Instructions for the Survey of the Public Lands of the United States 2009, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (Washington: Government Printing Office, 2009) Date Topic Reading & Lecture Aug 28 Livenet - Introductions, Syllabus & Course Overview Aug 28 The General Plan & Methods of Survey: Origin of the Public Ch. I & Ch II Lands, Survey Instructions, General Rules, Lengths and Directions of Lines Sep 4 Livenet Discussion of Aug 28 Lecture Sep 4 The System of Rectangular Surveys: General Scheme, Ch. III Initial Points, Townships, Sections and Fractional Parts PLSS Case Studies Class Lecture Sep 11 Livenet Discussion of Sep 4 Lecture Sep 11 Monumentation: Legal Significance, Corner Material, Ch. IV System of Marking, Corner Accessories Sep 18 Livenet Discussion of Sep 11 Lecture Sep 18 Principles of Resurveys: Resurveys, Bona Fide Rights, Ch. V Dependent and Independent Resurveys Quiz No. 1 via WebCampus (Complete by 11:59 pm Sep. 24, 2012) (Chapters I-IV) Sep 25 Livenet Discussion of Sep 18 Lecture Sep 25 Principles of Resurveys & Resurveys and Evidence: Ch. V Cont. & Ch. VI Existent and Obliterated Corners Oct 2 Livenet Discussion of Sep 25 Lecture Oct 2 Resurveys and Restoration: Restoration of Lost Corners, Ch. VII Primary & Secondary Methids, Metes and Bounds Oct 9 Livenet Discussion of Oct 2 Lecture Oct 9 Resurveys and Restoration: Ch. VII Cont. Oct 16 Livenet Discussion of Oct 9 Lecture Oct 16 Resurveys and Restoration if needed; Ch. VII Cont. Non-Rectangular Survey Case Studies Class Lecture

5 Course Syllabus, Page 5 Oct 23 Livenet Discussion of Oct 16 Lecture Oct 23 Resurveys and Water Boundaries: Basics of Water Ch. VIII Boundaries, Protraction Diagrams Quiz No. 2 via WebCampus (Complete by 11:59 pm Oct. 22, 2012) (Chapters V-VII) Oct 30 Livenet Discussion of Oct 23 Lecture Oct 30 Resurveys and Water Boundaries & Special Instructions Ch. VIII Cont. & Ch. IX Field Notes and Plats: Nov 6 Livenet Discussion of Oct 30 Lecture Nov 6 Special Instructions Field Notes and Plats: Ch. IX Cont. Nov 13 Livenet Discussion of Nov 6 Lecture Nov 13 Special Surveys and Mineral Surveys: Ch. X & Class Other Non-rectangular Surveys Within the PLSS Lecture Nov 20 Nov 20 Thanksgiving Break Good time to work on the Term Project Except for Chapter X material. Nov 27 Livenet Discussion of Nov 20 Lecture Nov 27 Open Discussion: Student Participation, The Surveyor Class Participation as an Expert Witness - Instructor Will Provide PLSS Cases for Class Discussion and/or Discuss Cases from Students. Professionalism; An Exception to Every Rule; Interior Board of Land Appeals; Summary Quiz No. 3 via WebCampus (Complete by 11:59 pm Dec 3, 2012) (Chapters VIII-X) Dec 4 Livenet Discussion of Nov 27 Lecture if needed Term Project Report Due by 11:59 pm Dec 9, Don t wait until the last few days to start this project work on it throughout the term. Dec 11 Final Exam via WebCampus (Complete by 11:59 pm Dec. 11, 2012)