Halsey Lake, WI – Case Study

Two good examples of how swamp lands enter into cadastral survey considerations are contained in Public Lands Surveying, a Casebook, on Pages D10-1 through D11-3. You should find a copy of the casebook in your State office.

Let’s briefly look at one of these cases, Halsey Lake, Wisconsin.

Public Lands Surveying – A Casebook – PDF

This map indicates swampland adjacent to the Halsey Lake.

Refer to the next section below to see the 1864 Plat.

The water body shown in the 1864 plat was probably swamp land.

This swampy condition in 1864 was verified during investigations conducted by the BLM in 1969 and 1970.

“The record lake contained upland species of timber. It was quite evident that no lake ever existed in section 29. Though a large portion of the area was swampy, the record meanders did not meander the swampy area, rather they crossed ridges, etc., and followed no contour.”

Since the false lakebed was considered as omitted land by the BLM, the final survey steps were to first, extend the rectangular system over the omitted land.

Then identify by legal subdivision those areas which were 50 percent or more swamp in 1864.

After identifying historical swamp areas and completing the extension of the rectangular survey over the area, most BLM field surveyors will be finished with their part of the job.

The remaining administrative activity involves BLM state office branches of cadastral survey and lands and minerals, as well as the affected state to which eligible swamp land will be transferred.