AIE was awarded this survey for property the CTDEEP intends to acquire from a private owner and annex into abutting State Forest. This property consists of nearly 300 acres total on both sides of Route 7 in Canaan, CT. Both parcels are challenging with respect to the survey aspect because the parcel on the west side of Route 7 consists of approximately 200 acres with about half of that being part of the ‘Robbins Swamp’. This swamp has some extremely dense vegetation and a watercourse flowing through it. The parcel on the east side of Route 7 which consists of approximately 100 acres has an extreme vertical challenge. From Route 7 to the rear of this parcel there is nearly a 1,000 ft. vertical climb which makes the survey an extremely difficult task. Both parcels will require marking of the boundary lines per CTDEEP standards after the survey is complete but prior to submitting the final maps.

The record research for any boundary survey is a critical part of the project. Existing land records (deeds and maps) are traced back in time to recover original parcel descriptions of the subject property as well as all abutting properties to assure there are no major discrepancies along common boundaries. Existing maps on file at Town Hall are also copied and compared to deed descriptions. In this specific situation, a survey map from 1913 was found at Town Hall which depicted parcel configurations at that time. Some of these parcels have not changed since then so this map is of value in an effort to retrace those property lines through the extensive swamp which has no stone walls or fences as landmarks to follow.

Once the boundary survey is complete, AIE will set boundary markers along the perimeter of the parcels per CTDEEP standards. This requires a rebar to be set at each corner and along each line at a maximum distance of 400 ft. between markers. Mylar copies of the maps will then be submitted to CTDEEP to be filed at Canaan Town Hall.