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JULY 2013 California Land Surveyors Association
Channel Islands Chapter El Agrimensor 222000111333 President’s Message TThhaannkk yyoouu ttoo tthhoossee ooff yyoouu wwhhoo ccaammee oouutt ttoo tthhee aannnnuuaall ppiiccnniicc.. WWee wweerree llooww iinn aatttteennddaannccee,, bbuutt iitt wwaass aa ggrreeaatt eevveenntt,, nnoonneetthheelleessss.. BBiillll HHuurrddllee aanndd mmyysseellff wwoonn tthhee hhoorrsseesshhooee ttoouurrnnaammeenntt;; iitt wwaass aa vveerryy cclloossee ggaammee wwiitthh tthhee 22001122 cchhaammppiioonnss,, JJeerrrryy HHoovveellll && JJiimm AAtthheerrttoonn.. BBiillll HHuurrddllee aallssoo wwoonn tthhee oovveerraallll ppaacciinngg ccoommppeettiittiioonn aanndd DDaavvee GGrraasssseell wwoonn tthhee ttrriippoodd‐‐cceenntteerriinngg ccoonntteesstt.. CChheecckk oouutt ssoommee ooff tthhee ppiiccttuurreess wwee’’vvee ccoolllleecctteedd ssoo ffaarr oonn ppaaggee 1144.. IIff yyoouu hhaavvee ppiiccttuurreess yyoouu’’dd lliikkee ttoo ccoonnttrriibbuuttee,, wwee’’dd lloovvee ttoo hhaavvee tthheemm ((eemmaaiill JJeessssee@@ooppddaahhll..cccc)).. AAllssoo,, aa bbiigg TTHHAANNKKSS ttoo BBrruuccee JJoocchhuummss ooff BBJJ’’ss BBBBQQ aanndd CCaatteerriinngg,, ffoorr pprroovviiddiinngg ffaannttaassttiicc ffoooodd ffoorr tthhee eevveenntt.. NNooww mmoorree tthhaann eevveerr,, pplleeaassee eennccoouurraaggee yyoouurr ssuurrvveeyyoorr ffrriieennddss ttoo ggeett iinnvvoollvveedd.. TThhee uuppccoommiinngg jjooiinntt mmeeeettiinngg wwiitthh tthhee LL..AA.. CChhaapptteerr iiss aann eexxcceelllleenntt ooppppoorrttuunniittyy ttoo ggeett nneeww aanndd oolldd mmeemmbbeerrss iinntteerreesstteedd aaggaaiinn.. TThhiiss iiss ddeeffiinniitteellyy aa mmeeeettiinngg yyoouu ddoonn’’tt wwaanntt ttoo mmiissss!! 22001144 SSttaattee PPrreessiiddeenntt EElleecctt,, JJaayy SSeeyymmoouurr wwiillll bbee lleeaaddiinngg aa pprreesseennttaattiioonn ttiittlleedd,, CCLLSSAA‐‐PPaasstt‐‐PPrreesseenntt‐‐FFuuttuurree‐‐CCoommee SShhaarree tthhee VViissiioonn!! HHaavviinngg bbeeeenn oonn tthhee ssttaattee eexxeeccuuttiivvee CCoommmmiitttteeee ssiinnccee 22000099,, hhee wwiillll bbrriinngg hhiiss eexxppeerriieenncceess aanndd eexxppoossuurree aatt tthhee ssttaattee lleevveell ttoo oouurr mmeeeettiinngg.. HHee wwiillll ttaakkee ssoommee ooff tthhee mmyysstteerryy oouutt ooff tthhee oorrggaanniizzaattiioonn aanndd eexxppllaaiinn hhooww CCLLSSAA wwoorrkkss,, hhooww wwee aass cchhaapptteerrss ccaann ccoonnttrriibbuuttee ttoo tthhee ssttaattee oorrggaanniizzaattiioonn,, aanndd hhooww ttoo ggrrooww oouurr llooccaallcchhaapptteerrss iinn tthhee pprroocceessss!! TThhee ccoosstt ttoo aatttteenndd ((iinncclluuddiinngg ddiinnnneerr)) iiss $$3300 wwiitthh aa rreesseerrvvaattiioonn;; ootthheerrwwiissee iitt wwiillll bbee $$3355 aatt tthhee ddoooorr.. TThhee ccoosstt ffoorr aaddmmiissssiioonn aanndd ddiinnnneerr ffoorr ssttuuddeennttss iiss rreedduucceedd ttoo $$2200.. PPlleeaassee ccaallll PPaauullaa ttoo rreesseerrvvee yyoouurr ssppoott aanndd hhaavvee yyoouurr ccrreeddiitt ccaarrdd rreeaaddyy:: 881188..336622..88888866 // mmeemmbbeerrsshhiipp@@ccllssaa‐‐llaa..oorrgg.. AAnndd ssppeeaakkiinngg ooff nneeww mmeemmbbeerrss,, CCOONNGGRRAATTUULLAATTIIOONNSS TTOO TTHHEE NNEEWW 22001133 PPLLSS’’SS!! CChheecckk oouutt ppaaggee 33 ffoorr aa ccoommpplleettee lliisstt ooff nneeww lliicceennsseeeess aanndd hheellpp mmee bbyy wweellccoommiinngg tthheemm ttoo tthhee pprrooffeessssiioonn ((aanndd hhooppeeffuullllyy ssoommee ooff tthheemm ttoo oouurr CChhaapptteerr))!!AAllssoo,, mmaakkee ssuurree yyoouu cchheecckk oouutt tthhee aarrttiicclleess ooff iinntteerreesstt ssuubbmmiitttteedd bbyy PPaauull CCooookk oonn ppaaggeess 1122 aanndd 1155.. WWee lloovvee yyoouurr ccoonnttrriibbuuttiioonnss‐‐ iiff yyoouu hhaavvee ssoommeetthhiinngg yyoouu’’dd lliikkee ttoo sshhaarree iinn tthhee nneewwsslleetttteerr,, pplleeaassee sseenndd iitt ttoo JJeessssee@@ooppddaahhll..cccc.. ……LLooookkiinngg ffoorr wwoorrkk?? TThhee CCiittyy ooff OOxxnnaarrdd iiss sseeeekkiinngg aa CCiittyy SSuurrvveeyyoorr;; sseeee ppaaggee 66 ffoorr ddeettaaiillss.. II hhooppee eevveerryyoonnee hhaass aa ffuunn aanndd ssaaffee 44tthh!! SSeeee yyoouu aatt tthhee nneexxtt mmeeeettiinngg!!
*Event: Chapter Meeting Date: Thursday, AAuugguusstt 1155,, 22001133 Time: Social Hour 6pm & Meeting at 7pm Where: Marie Callender’s 1295 Victoria Ave., Ventura Cost: $25 Speaker & Topic: TBD
*Event: Chapter Meeting Date: Thursday, SSeepptteemmbbeerr 1199,, 22001133 Time: Social Hour 6pm & Meeting at 7pm Where: Marie Callender’s 1295 Victoria Ave., Ventura Cost: $25 Speaker & Topic: TBD
*Event: Annual Christmas Party/Installment Dinner Date: Thursday, DDeecceemmbbeerr 1122,, 22001133 Where/Time/Cost: TBD Speaker & Topic: TBD
Event: Channel Islands & L.A. Chapters Joint MeetingDate & Time: Thursday, JJuullyy 1111,, 22001133 at 7:00 pm Where: BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse 6424 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills 91367 Cost: $30 with R.S.V.P. or $35 at the door, $20 for students Speaker: Jay Seymour Topic: CLSA‐Past, Present, Future
Calendar
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TTaabbllee ooff CCoonntteennttss President’s Message…………..….……..1Calendar………….………………..……..1Introduction of Guest Speaker…….….2New 2013 PLS’s…………..……...………32013 Chapter Membership Application……………..………………..4CLSA State Membership………..……..5City of Oxnard Surveyor Position for Hire...………………..………….…….6Membership Roster Deadline……...….7Ventura County Surveyor’s Office DVD’s………..………………..….7SPC Zone Update……………………….7Reporting Unlicensed Activity………..8September Seminar……………..………9Chapter Website Update……...…….….9NGS Releases 10‐Year Plan……..……10Caltrans Update……………….……….10CLSA PDP Program………….….…….10Record of Surveys: Did you know?…………..……….… …12CLSA Picnic Pictures……...……….….14Spanish Land Grants………………….15Contacts……………..………….……….18
Introducing our Next Guest Speaker, Jay Seymour
Mr. Seymour is entering his 45th year in Civil Engineering,Land Planning, Land Surveying, and Land Development andhis 36th year as a professional land surveyor, holding licensesof registration in Kansas since RLS-1978, Colorado since PLS-1979, and California since LLS-1991.
He has surveyed in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma,Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Alaska, and California. Hehas prepared in excess of 11,000 legal descriptions, performed2,000 full Sectionalized-Land-Boundary-Surveys in multiplestates, and has supervised and prepared over 3,000ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys in his career. Mr. Seymourhas been an Expert Witness in Boundary Disputes in bothColorado and California. He currently develops his ownseminars with Professional Land Consultants, Inc., a companyhe has owned since 1984.
He has been a continuous supporter of education programs,and gives his time annually to educate, support, and train the“next generation surveyor”. He has guest lectured or heldseminars over the years at the following schools: MadisonElementary, Adams Middle, and Mira Costa High School inRedondo Beach, CA. He has also presented at Cal PolyPomona, Cal State Fresno, Santiago College, East LA College,College of the Canyons, and Pasadena Community College.
California Land Surveyors Association (CLSA): a ProfessionalAssociation- Resume
• Member of CLSA since 1989 • Member of the Professional Development Program since 2001 • Officer of the Los Angeles Chapter from 2003-2013 • Los Angeles Chapter president 2008 • State Representative/Board of Directors 2009-2011 • State Member at large to the Executive Committee 2009-2011 • State Member of the Executive Committee 2009-2013 • State Chairman of the Policies & Procedures Committee 2012-
2013 • Member of the following state committees: Public Awareness;
Legislation; Monument Conservation; co-chairman of the membership
• Member of the Year for CLSA 2011 • State Treasurer 2012 • State Secretary 2013 • State President Elect 2014 “Come join us, bring your questions, concerns, and comments,but most importantly bring your VISION! Guaranteed to be anentertaining and lively exchange of ideas from the southernCalifornia Surveyors! Invest an evening in yourself, yourchapter, and your profession! See you there!” -Jay
Chapter Newsletter Advertisement Rates
Business Card Size $100 ¼ Size $200 ½ Page $300 Full Page $400
Mid-year commitments can be prorated as necessary
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DʹArtagnan Alba, PLS 9052 (Tehachapi)James Bailey, PLS 9019 (Reno, NV) Brandon Barnett, PLS 9040 (Norco) Forrest Beresini, PLS 9056 (Napa) Chad Blau, PLS 9021 (Clovis) Shaun Bootsma, PLS 9000 (Petaluma) Tom Caseldine, PLS 9029 (Corona) Sudhir Chaudhary, PLS 8993 (Napa) Michael Chiara, PLS 9058 (Folsom) Robert Cleveland, PLS 9016 (Stockton) Bruce Cramton, PLS 9039 (Trabuco Canyon) Michael Dauster, PLS 9047 (Bakersfield) Arthur Decamp, PLS 9034 (Auburn) Ryan Engel, PLS 9022 (Vacaville) John Erickson, PLS 9033 (Davis) Manuel Esparza, PLS 9002 (Cypress) Christian Foster, PLS 9001 (Tustin) Jason Fussel, PLS 9006 (Buellton) Daniel Garcia, PLS 9038 (Downey) Russell Guizado, PLS 9030 (Pasadena) Stuart Hagerman, PLS 9053 (Vacaville) Neil Hansen, PLS 9027 (Burbank) Andrew Harris, PLS 9014 (Carlsbad) Jason Harrison, PLS 9003 (Oakland) Steve Hennessee, PLS 8999 (South Pasadena) Leonardo Hernandez, PLS 8997 (Visalia) Tristan Higgins, PLS 9048 (Turlock) Roy Hill, PLS 8996 (Yuba City) Paul Hillmer, PLS 9017 (Riverside) Justin Holt, PLS 9008 (Simi Valley) Jonathan Hose, PLS 9035 (Grass Valley) Geoffrey Howland, PLS 9011 (San Diego) Joseph Hughes, PLS 8992 (Sebastopol) Dean Jurado, PLS 9032 (Modesto) Justin Lambert, PLS 9046 (Citrus Heights) Josh Locker, PLS 9015 (San Marcos) Jacob Logan, PLS 9042 (San Marcos)
Mike Lopez, PLS 8995 (Camarillo)Josh Locker, PLS 9015 (San Marcos) Jacob Logan, PLS 9042 (San Marcos) Mike Lopez, PLS 8995 (Camarillo) Matthew Machado, PLS 9055 (Modesto) James Menesez, PLS 9012 (Atascadero) Benjamin Moody, PLS 9018 (Yuba City) Kirkpatrick Myers, PLS 9009 (Pleasanton) Jason Nakamura, PLS 9061 (Seattle, WA) Joseph Neely, PLS 9026 (Fair Oaks) Christopher Pentes, PLS 9059 (Danville) Kacie Plouff, PLS 9013 (Valencia) Christopher Prewitt, PLS 9025 (Bakersfield) Kristopher Puthoff, PLS 8994 (Morgan Hill) Keith Ream, PLS 9050 (Crestline) Dennis Rose, PLS 9045 (Costa Mesa) Christopher Royak, PLS 9060 (Bellevue, WA) Matthew Russell, PLS 9010 (Roseville) Gary Schenk, PLS 9054 (Huntington Beach) Steve Slocum, PLS 9044 (Irvine) Nickolas Smith, PLS 9057 (Henderson, NV) Shane Sobecki, PLS 9041 (Thousand Oaks) Cody Sommer, PLS 9020 (Henderson, NV) Kevin Stein, PLS 9028 (San Mateo) Mathew Steward, PLS 9036 (San Luis Obispo) Zeljko Sumera, PLS 9007 (Sun Valley) Mark Swallow, PLS 9005 (Novato) Michael Thompson, PLS 9023 (Livermore) Joshua Tremba, PLS 9043 (Forest Falls) Anne‐Sophie Truong, PLS 8998 (San Mateo) Eric Vance, PLS 9037 (Ukiah) James Walsh, PLS 9024 (Aztec, NM) Alexander White, PLS 9004 (San Ramon) Lee Williams, PLS 9051 (Poway) Brendan Williams, PLS 9049 (Folsom) Jeff Wright, PLS 9031 (Santa Clarita)
Congratulations to the New 2013 PLS’s!
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JJooiinn oouurr CChhaapptteerr ttooddaayy!! The success of an association is dependent on the membership. Financial support throughannual dues is important, but even more critical is participation by members. If you are notalready a member of your state or local association, join today and get involved!
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HHaavvee yyoouu ccoonnssiiddeerreedd jjooiinniinngg aatt tthhee SSttaattee lleevveell??
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Close Date: Jul 11, 2013 Salary: $5,111.00 ‐ $8,177.00 Monthly
The City Surveyor is the supervisory management‐level class responsible for planning, organizing, directing and participating in engineering surveys and for providing responsible professional and technical staff assistance. This classification is distinguished from the next lower classification of Party Chief by the performance of the most complex professional survey engineering work requiring a substantial level of professional training and experience.
Under administrative direction, the City Surveyor supervises, evaluates and participates in the work ofpersonnel responsible for the review and approval of final maps, parcel maps, lot line adjustments and legaldescriptions; provides topographic surveying for engineering design and construction staking for public worksprojects; ensures safe work practices, work quality and accuracy; maintains appropriate work records; serves asa technical resource for assigned work staff.
IDEAL CANDIDATE: A Bachelorʹs degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in engineering, mathematics, surveying, or a closely related field, and three years of directly related experience as a Chief of Party.
The City Surveyor must have a valid Professional Land Surveyors (PLS) License issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.
KNOWLEDGE OF: • Applicable principles and practices of engineering • Surveying methods, practices and techniques • Methods and techniques used in the design and construction of a variety of public works projects • Algebra, geometry and trigonometry • Relevant laws and regulatory codes dealing with development, construction, surveying and real estate • Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation • Modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software
ABILITY TO: • Understand and interpret legal descriptions and record survey maps • Understand and interpret engineering plans, diagrams and notes • Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing • Use and care for surveying instruments and equipment • Make accurate and legible field survey notes • Perform complex mathematical calculations with speed and accuracy • Plan and organize the work of a field survey crew to achieve optimum efficiency • Prepare complex reports and make recommendations on major projects • Supervise, train, and evaluate subordinate field survey personnel
The City Surveyor must have a valid Professional Land Surveyors (PLS) License issued by the California Dept of Consumer Affairs Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologist.
CCiittyy ooff OOxxnnaarrdd SSuurrvveeyyoorr ffoorr HHiirree
For more info, contact: [email protected] or (805) 385‐7590
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CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP ROSTER DEADLINE
JULY 31ST Chapters are required to provide the state Association with a list of members in good standing by July 31st. Those members that are both members of the chapter and the state will be used to determine the number of Directors a Chapter is eligible to elect to the state Board of Directors. Note: The CLSA bylaws require that Chapter members join the state within one year. As of May 8, 2013 the Channel Islands Chapter has the following numbers for 2013 Members in good standing:
39 Corporate 24 Associate 10 Affiliate 1 Student
Reminders for Membership renewal just went out. If you don’t’ receive one, print a membership application from this newsletter (page 4) with payment and mail it in. CLSA Bylaws-Sec. 8.07 Membership in Chapter: No person shall be eligible for membership in a chapter unless such person is eligible for membership in the Association. After having been a chapter member for one year, no person shall be eligible for membership in a chapter unless also a member in the Association.
Chapter News
…CALL FOR ARTICLES! GOT INTERESTING STORIES? READ SOMETHING WORTH SHARING? WANT TO VOICE YOUR OPINION? Email [email protected] or [email protected] to have your thoughts shared in our newsletter! We can always use the help!
SPC ZONE For Channel Islands
As of May 2012, NGS has corrected the NAD83 State Plane Coordinates for the southern Channel Islands to be Zone 6, whereas they used to be NAD27 Zone 5. The islands impacted are: San Clemente, Santa Catalina, Santa Barbara & San Nicholas Questions or mistakes? Contact the NGS Geodetic Advisor at [email protected].
The Ventura County Surveyor’s Office is selling DVD’s 1, 2 & 3!
DVD set (inc. tax)…$16.09 Shipping……………$9.50
DVD’s are created upon request. Contact the Surveyor’s Office to order (805.654.2068)
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A Message from The Board: Reporting Unlicensed ActivityIt is a violation of state law for an unlicensed individual to offer and/or practice civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering, land surveying, geology, and geophysics unless he/she is appropriately licensed by the Board.
Our Board takes this unlicensed offering and/or practice of professional services seriously. Since the Enforcement Unit is limited in its resources and cannot proactively search for unlicensed activities, we rely on others to inform staff when unlicensed work is being offered and/or performed.
The Board is asking that any listing of these services by an individual not licensed to perform those services be sent to our office for review. Licenses can be verified on our websites, www.pels.ca.gov and www.geology.ca.gov, or by calling the Board Office. If you become aware of unlicensed and/or practiced activities, please provide us with documentary evidence of the alleged unlicensed activity. This may include copies of the advertisement, the written contract, a business card, or other documents that may support the allegation.
You may choose to submit the complaint anonymously, if you wish. The goal of the Board is to ensure understanding of and compliance with the laws through education to prevent future violations and enforcement actions, when necessary.
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Amazingly, few surveyors would agree on the elements and criteria to be used in this fundamental decision. And in fact, many professionals simply apply archaic or nostalgic rules, which have nothing to do with the law, or landowner rights!
This is a fast‐moving 4‐hour course on the most difficult question in the profession. It starts with a brief review of case law on the subject. It moves on to dispel several rules we have traditionally applied to this crucial question. Audience participation is encouraged to help create a ʺchecklistʺ of issues to be considered. Several real‐world scenarios are discussed in detail, and the participants are encouraged to explain their own experiences in this area.
This course will challenge your personal “litmus tests” for acceptance or rejection of evidence. More details to follow…
By Dennis Mouland [email protected]
Upcoming SeptemberSeminar…
“To Accept or Not to Accept; That is the Question”
Why do we license surveyors? Is it to ensure accurate construction staking? Or to measure the geoid to the nearest millimeter? Not at all: we are a regulated profession because of boundary survey issues. And the absolute heart of boundary surveying is the acceptance or rejection of survey evidence we find in the field.
CChhaapptteerr WWeebbssiittee UUppddaattee Shant Ohanessian has launched the new website! Ideas for a new & improved Chapter websiteare underway and we welcome your ideas. Here’s what’s being talked about:
1. Current calendar of meetings & events, as seen on the State CLSA website. Reference: californiasurveyors.org/clsaforum/calendar.php
2. Links to Ventura, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara County research sites (i.e.: GIS, County Assessors, and County Surveyor’s Office)
3. Information pertaining to Board Rules/LS Act, as seen on the State CLSA website. Reference: bpelsg.ca.gov/licencees/laws.html
4. Updated archive of our Chapter’s newsletter, as seen on the State CLSA website. Reference: californiasurveyors.org/chapter_nl.asp?ch=11
5. Updated membership list: A list of benefits for joining at the State level, as seen on the State CLSA website. Reference: californiasurveyors.org/membben.html
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The CLSA Professional Development Program (PDP) is a voluntary Program intended to encourage and support the continued professional growth and competency of land surveyors and recognize their continuing education activities. This program also provides members a means to meet out‐of‐ state licensure requirements. Visit http://www.californiasurveyors.org/profdev.html
The National Geodetic Survey Releases Updated Ten‐Year Strategic Plan 2013–2023
In their efforts to continually improve their service to the nation, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) periodically undergoes a reevaluation and planning process. As NGS approached the halfway point with their existing Ten‐Year Plan (2008–2018), NGS leadership decided it was time to reevaluate priorities. With changing technological developments and revised NGS priorities, it became clear that an updated plan was needed. To represent their goals now and into the future, NGS is pleased to present their new Ten‐Year Strategic Plan 2013–2023. To improve business operations, in the new plan NGS has focused their efforts and resources on four main goals and one enterprise goal. We invite you to review the updated plan at your convenience: http://geodesy.noaa.gov/web/news/Ten_Year_Plan_2013‐2023.pdf
Do you know that CLSA has a Professional Development Program?
Caltrans UpdateOn November 27, 2012 Caltrans updated their survey manual and made the following changes: All projects on the state highway system must use the Construction Surveys Chapter for construction staking. You may purchase bound paperback copies of this chapter for $6.00 from the Caltrans DPAC Warehouse Publications Unit by calling: (916) 445‐3520 or by visiting: http://www.caltrans‐opac.ca.gov/publicat.html
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Thanks to our generous sponsor!
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I did a boundary survey this year where I thought that a Corner Record would be an acceptable document to file with the County Surveyor for the monuments I found and set in a record subdivision. There was a steep area of the parcel in the back that had not been built on or fenced for the 60+ years that the subdivision had existed. There were signs of ground movement in the area, cracked and displaced retaining walls 30’ away or so and settlement of the houses in the neighborhood was an issue according to my client. Some of the original iron pipes I found were no longer in the correct position. I believed that they were correctly placed originally but had moved over time due to soil creep. All other moments in the subdivision and outside of this steep area did measure correctly, according to the recorded map. When my Corner Record came back from first check at the County Surveyor’s office it was accompanied with a letter which said that I was required to file a Record of Survey instead of a Corner Record due to the “physical change” my survey discovered. Section 8762(b) (1) of the LS Act triggered the Record of Survey. I requested the State Board to review this determination. Attached is there letter to me confirming that a Record of Survey map is indeed “required” is such cases. So, the next time you state that a monument is FTC (from the true corner) or not exactly on the corner or line, you are required to file a Record of Survey map.
DDDiiiddd yyyooouuu kkknnnooowww?????????SSUUBBMMIITTTTEEDD BBYY LL.. PPAAUULL CCOOOOKK,, PPLLSS
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DDDiiiddd yyyooouuu kkknnnooowww?????????CCoonntt’’dd
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22001133 PPiiccnniicc
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My neighbor, Ed Cordero, met me at my truck one dayafter work and had a very large book in his hands. He said, “Paul, you may be interested in this.” It was a very large book titled, “ABSTRACT OF TITLE MADE BY SANTA BARBARA ABSTRACT AND GUARANTY COMPANY,” with a note stuck to the cover that said “Rancho Las Cruces 1836 to 1913”. This book was 3” thick and full of typed out copies of all the grants, etc. concerning the Rancho Las Cruces between those dates, some 748 pages of deeds, mortgages, tax sales etc. There is even an index of each in the front of the book of grantor and grantees. Who among us has ever read a Spanish Land Grant? Not me. Not in all the 40+ years I’ve been surveying have I ever read the words of a real Spanish Land Grant. Well, I have now! Fortunately this book contained both the Spanish and the English version of that grant. I am attaching a copy of that land grant to share with my brother land surveyors who may also appreciate reading a real Spanish Land Grant. Unfortunately “the plan” that the grant refers to was not included in this book but here is a copy of the 1881 survey plat by the U.S. Survey General. This survey shows the rancho to contain some 8,512.81 Acres. Too bad my neighbor didn’t inherit the rancho!
Have you ever read a real Spanish Land Grant?By L. Paul Cook. PLS
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Spanish Land Grant Cont’d
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Spanish and Mexican Land Grants, 1855–1875 The State Archives holds official state copies of land grants from the Spanish and Mexican periods including transcripts of official correspondence and maps.
When the United States took possession of California and other Mexican lands in 1848, it was bound by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to honor the legitimate land claims of Mexican citizens residing in those captured territories. In order to investigate and confirm titles in California, American officials acquired the provincial records of the Spanish and Mexican governments in Monterey. Those records, most of which were transferred to the U. S. Surveyor Generalʹs Office in San Francisco, included land deeds, sketch–maps (disenos), and various other documents. The Land Act of 1851 established a board of land commissioners to review these records and adjudicate claims, and charged the Surveyor General with surveying confirmed land grants. Of the 813 grants ultimately claimed, the land commission approved only 553.
The Surveyor Generalʹs Office for California ceased operation in 1925, whereupon its records were transferred to the Public Survey Office in Glendale, California. In 1937, the National Archives in Washington, D.C., acquired the bulk of these records, the rest falling into the hands of the Bureau of Land Management in Sacramento and the National Archives Pacific Region branch in San Bruno, with a few other copies going to other manuscript repositories in the state.
The California State Archives has two collections of Spanish and Mexican land grant records from the Office of the United States Surveyor General for California. The Spanish Archives collection (contact the Reference Desk for additional information) includes copies of the title papers and sketch–maps found at Monterey, transcribed and deposited in the Archives in 1871 at the request of the Legislature. Perhaps as early as 1937, the State Archives also acquired drafts and copies of 665 maps surveyed by the U. S. Surveyor General between the late 1850ʹs and mid–1880ʹs, covering Californiaʹs many missions, ranchos, and pueblo lands, together with a few miscellaneous maps, including surveys of Indian reservations and government lands. Those maps are reflected here in this collection. The U.S. Surveyor General produced many of these maps for the California State Surveyor General in 1861 – probably for use by the state in determining Swamp and Overflow Lands. The maps show the boundaries on land grants as defined in mid– to late 1861, when they were created. The researcher should note that for some of these maps, the boundaries were altered during the final survey of the exact boundaries. Therefore they should not be presumed to be the official boundaries for the land grant – only as boundaries as of 1861.
The Mexican land grant system has had a profound influence on the history of California, shaping settlement patterns and land ownership. These maps are some of the earliest in California, and therefore are invaluable in understanding the complex system of land ownership in the Golden State today.
Excerpt from California Secretary of State, Debra Bowen: United States Surveyor General for California http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/collections/ussg/
Want to know more about the history of Spanish Land Grants?
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“Recognizing that the true merit of a profession is
determined by its service to society, the Channel Islands Chapter of the California Land Surveyor’s Association does hereby dedicate itself to advancing the profession of land surveying because of its social
and economic contributions to the welfare of the community, state, and nation.”
-Channel Islands CLSA Mission Statement
Chapter Officers President:
♦Steve Opdahl, PLS [email protected], (805) 495-6438
Vice President: ♦Bill Hurdle, PLS [email protected], 805) 320-3441
Secretary: ♦Shant Ohannessian, PLS [email protected], (805) 654-2942
Treasurer: ♦Dan Walsh, PLS [email protected], (805) 654-2942
Chapter Directors: ♦Kurt Lehnhardt, PLS [email protected], (805) 654-4225
♦Marta Alvarez, PLS [email protected], (805) 650-6995
Alternates Directors: ♦Debbie Naives, PLS [email protected], (805) 654-3635
♦Frank Maxim, PLS [email protected], (805) 654-7751
♦Matt Vernon, PLS [email protected], (805) 383-3373
♦Michael McGee, PLS [email protected], (805) 964-3520
Newsletter Editors: ♦Steve Opdahl, PLS [email protected], (805) 495-6438
♦Jesse Kendall [email protected]
Contacts Committees CLSA Channel Islands Office P.O. Box 6572, Ventura CA 93006 Website: www.clsa-ci.org CLSA Central Office 526 South East St. Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Phone: (707) 578-6016 Fax: (707) 578-4406 Email: [email protected] Website: www.californiasurveyors.org
The Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors And Geologists Website: www.bpelsg.ca.gov Channel Islands Joint Professional Practices Committee (JPPC) P.O. Box 6572, Ventura CA 93006 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.clsa-ci.org/ppc_home.html
