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Creek boundary - What say you?

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Strictly Surveying

Last Post by holy-cow 4 months ago

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Stillplumb

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A deed with no bearings or distances calls for 'starting at the bridge' (on a non-navigable creek) - doesn't say center or which side. Normally, unless stated otherwise, this boundary would be the center of the creek. Then down the creek along the cliff (cliff is on the same side where the subject property is located); then on down the creek to a tree (which side is not stated), then down to a tree that is on the opposite side of the creek. There is an old, abandoned dirt road with no recorded width or ROW that traverses the subject property and crosses the creek downstream from the cliff and then runs upstream along the other side to the bridge. My guess is the boundary is along the cliff side, and the tree on the other side is just to indicate where the boundary leaves the creek and starts up the hill.

Posted : June 7, 2026 8:07 am

GaryG

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What do the adjoining properties deeds describe?

Posted : June 7, 2026 8:21 am

BStrand

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Sounds kind of like an aliquot part... it's whatever you say it is.

Posted : June 7, 2026 9:12 am

Stillplumb

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@gary_g --- This sketch may answer the question. However, it seems odd that Tract A boundary would be on the same side of the creek as Tract A parcel and Tract B boundary would be on opposite side of creek as Tract B parcel.

Attachment : IMG_5868.jpeg

The old roadbed is not totally distinguishable the entire length along Tract A, so where to mark that boundary between road and Tract A? Tract A deed also has no bearings and distances.

Posted : June 7, 2026 12:53 pm

holy-cow

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I would search all tracts back over 150 years when most modern bridges did not exist to find when this pathway was first described.

Posted : June 7, 2026 2:15 pm

Landbutcher464MHz

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I have no idea if USGS quad sheets would be any help but according to Google they go back to 1882 in some areas. From Google:

USGS topographic quadrangle maps span a massive production timeline. The very first USGS topographic map was printed in 1882. Systematic mapping was officially authorized by Congress in 1884. [1, 2]

Production of the iconic 7.5-minute map series was formalized in 1947 and the contiguous United States coverage was declared finished in 1992. [1, 2]

The primary eras and dates of these maps include:

The Early Years (1884–1940s): Early quadrangles were made at various scales, mainly for the western U.S., often covering areas of 15-minute or 30-minute intervals of latitude and longitude. [1, 2]
The 7.5-Minute Era (1947–1992): The USGS adopted the incredibly popular 1:24,000 scale map series as the national standard. Coverage for the contiguous U.S. was completed in 1992. [1, 2]
Paper Printing Phase-Out (1992–2006): Following the completion of the national grid, the USGS continued updating existing sheets until lithographic paper printing ended in 2006. [1, 2]
Digital US Topo Era (2009–Present): The USGS shifted entirely to mass-produced digital maps in 2009. These modern digital maps are modeled on the classic 7.5-minute quadrangles but are continuously updated

Posted : June 7, 2026 2:37 pm

holy-cow

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The closest thing I can compare to this situation is a farm a few miles from my house. The pioneer family about 1865 built their house along the west line of the southwest quarter of the section. Eventually, the county put in a road along the west line of the section and then turned west to ford a creek. The farm had about 140 acres on that side of a second creek and about 20 aces left on the opposite side of the same creek. There was no road providing access to that 20 acres. So, they took their horses and farm equipment down to a gently sloped entry into the second creek, then went down the creek several hundred feet to a semi-gentle slope to climb the opposite side before it became a cliff for the remainder of the path to the south side of the quarter section. Eventually, the farm owners built there new house on the 20-acre portion as a road had been built for public access. The long creek crossing was still in use about 30 years ago when I rode a combine along the path. The problem was the combine bin could only be filled about halfway in order to avoid spilling grain out on the steeper side of the creek.

Posted : June 7, 2026 3:21 pm

holy-cow

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The reason the above scenario came to mind is that the only public access to that quarter section today is to the southeast corner where the house is. If they were to sell the 140 to another party, they would need an access easement to be created very similar to the one in the original post.

Posted : June 8, 2026 11:42 am