Until the early 1900’s, contracted land surveyors performed most field surveys of federal and Indian lands. Many of these surveys were high quality, but many fell below federal standards. In extreme cases, the impact of these less than exemplary surveys is still felt today. To solve the problem, the federal government placed appointed land surveyors under the jurisdiction of the secretary of the Interior.

Over the years, the demand for surveys for such things as water boundaries, rights of way, and grazing sites has grown as budgets have shrunk. To address the increasing need for quality land surveys on Indian trust land, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians developed the Certified Federal Surveyor program. CFedS teaches private land surveyors who work in Indian Country how to conduct surveys that meet federal standards. 

In May of this year, BLM held a banquet to honor the inaugural class of 69 CFedS graduates. These individuals spent the previous five months immersed in online and DVD training, studying the particulars of the Public Lands Survey System, special survey rules and procedures, historical records investigation, and proper documentation.

BLM Cadastral Indian Program Manager Douglas Haywood explained to the group that though approximately $32 million is spent annually in Indian Country for surveys and survey services, BLM only receives about $6 million to $9 million in appropriated federal dollars each year to perform official cadastral surveys on federal land. Tribes and individuals, he said, pay the remaining $23 million to $26 million directly to private land surveyors. Unfortunately, many of these surveys do not meet federal requirements. For example, private surveyors may not know that they must file a survey plat (similar to a map) with the federal or local government as a record for future generations to follow.

To help meet the needs of trust beneficiaries, CFedS graduates are now trained to provide quality survey products based upon federally accepted survey processes and procedures. The program is not meant to take the place of federal authority surveys, as conducted through BLM’s Cadastral Survey Program, but it will help by preventing the federal government from having to redo surveys not up to its standards. CFedS graduates are directly available to address certain survey needs for BIA and for trust beneficiaries or, in certain instances, to be contracted with BLM.

Today Reginald Jaquish — a former dairy farmer — is now a CFedS in Wisconsin, available to area tribes and individuals. Tyler B. Parsons, the CFedS graduate with the highest score on the final exam, is based in Corvallis, Ore. Jeannette Hackney with Applied Engineering Services, is based in Ridgway, Colo; David L. Lucas is based in Chugiak, Ark. Others are scattered from Florida to California.

Just before handing over the first CFedS certificates, Steve Ackerman, a classmate based in North Dakota and a member of the CFedS certification panel, turned to the group and asked, “Have you ever been more proud of your surveying career than you are right now?” The 69 people in the room erupted in applause.

To find a CFedS graduate near you, go to the CFedS Web site at www.cfeds.org.