Pre and Post Wildfire Disaster Survey Monument Preservation: A Comprehensive Guide

The aftermath of a wildfire or major disaster in California is overwhelming. As communities begin the resilient work of cleaning up and rebuilding, one critical element is often overlooked: the preservation of survey monuments. These markers are the literal foundation of property ownership, and their destruction can lead to significant delays and legal disputes.

Why Preservation Matters During Cleanup

Land surveyors serve as the stewards of our nation’s property boundaries. Survey monuments, the physical rods, pipes, or concrete markers indicating property corners, are essential for:

• Fixing property and utility easement lines on the ground.
• Preventing costly delays in rebuilding improvements in their correct legal locations.
• Protecting public and private property rights.

When a monument is disturbed or destroyed during debris removal, a reset monument can only ever be a “compromise.” It is physically impossible to return it to the exact original position without a properly referenced original.

The Role of County Surveyors and Engineers

Under the Professional Land Surveyors’ Act Section 8771, the preservation of these monuments is a codified duty. Our guide emphasizes that Town and County Engineers, as well as designated Land Surveyors, must maintain oversight during disaster recovery to ensure these critical assets are not lost during state or federal cleanup efforts.

What’s Included in the Guide?

This white paper, originally submitted to the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), provides a roadmap for wildfire-vulnerable communities to adopt a “Pro-Monument Preservation Stance” before a disaster strikes.

Key resources inside the guide include:

• Pre-Disaster Checklists: Strategies for planning and survey monument preservation.
• Compliance Procedures: Ensuring adherence to Sec. 8771 during utility repair and tree removal.
• Certification Samples: Examples of boundary line and foundation location certifications for building permits.
• Policy Statements: Templates for Public Works survey monument preservation policies.

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Download the Full Resource

Due to the detailed nature of this guide which includes technical flow charts, legal code sections, and specific right-of-entry permit checklists, we recommend downloading the full version for field use and professional reference.

Download the Pre – Post Wildfire Disaster Survey Monument Preservation Guide (PDF)