Description: PLSSSecondDivision: This data set represents the GIS Version of the Public Land Survey System including both rectangular and non-rectangular surveys. The primary source for the data is cadastral survey records housed by the BLM supplemented with local records and geographic control coordinates from states, counties as well as other federal agencies such as the USGS and USFS. The data has been converted from source documents to digital form and transferred into a GIS format that is compliant with FGDC Cadastral Data Content Standards and Guidelines for publication. This data is optimized for data publication and sharing rather than for specific "production" or operation and maintenance. This data set includes the following: PLSS Fully Intersected (all of the PLSS feature at the atomic or smallest polygon level), PLSS Townships, First Divisions and Second Divisions (the hierarchical break down of the PLSS Rectangular surveys) PLSS Special surveys (non rectangular components of the PLSS) Meandered Water, Corners and Conflicted Areas (known areas of gaps or overlaps between Townships or state boundaries). The Entity-Attribute section of this metadata describes these components in greater detail.
Description: The Legal Description spatial layer covers the entire upland area of the State of Washington and consists of often overlapping areas that provide the structure and building blocks for the delineation of parcels of land, a parcel being briefly described as a portion of land identified for purpose of ownership, encumbrance, taxation or governmental administration. Legal Description areas are referred to in written legal descriptions used in the conveyance of parcels. In the Public Land Survey states, of which most non-colonial states including Washington are counted, the most widely recognized legal description area is called a Section. Normally there are 36 Sections in a Township, which is another legal description area. In Washington (and in Oregon) many early land claims took the form of Donation Land Claims, which are, like Sections, confined to being a part of a Township. Tracts, which are used by federal surveys to denote irregular areas where the claim to ownership is based on bona fide rights, and Protracted Blocks, which are a buffer between surveyed areas and areas of unsurveyed (protracted) Sections, are two additional subdivisions of Townships. Sections were not normally subdivided, except in theory, by the federal surveys. The subdivisions of Sections performed by county and local surveyors, using the federal design or schema for section subdivisions, are also part of the Legal Description layer. The fabric of Townships, Sections and their subdivisions, Donation Land Claims, Tracts and Protracted Blocks comprise what is known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). These PLSS surveys are referred to as Rectangular Surveys, due to their characteristic orientation to true meridian and to the normally square-like character of the areas encompassed. Other irregular federal surveys are included in the Legal Description layer. These include Mineral Surveys, Homestead Entry Surveys, Townsites and non-rectangular Indian Allotments. Under the authority of Counties and Cities many local subdivisions of the PLSS have been created and are included in the Legal Description Layer. Local subdivisions include the streets, blocks and lots that are common in urban and suburban environments.
Description: The Legal Description spatial layer covers the entire upland area of the State of Washington and consists of often overlapping areas that provide the structure and building blocks for the delineation of parcels of land, a parcel being briefly described as a portion of land identified for purpose of ownership, encumbrance, taxation or governmental administration. Legal Description areas are referred to in written legal descriptions used in the conveyance of parcels. In the Public Land Survey states, of which most non-colonial states including Washington are counted, the most widely recognized legal description area is called a Section. Normally there are 36 Sections in a Township, which is another legal description area. In Washington (and in Oregon) many early land claims took the form of Donation Land Claims, which are, like Sections, confined to being a part of a Township. Tracts, which are used by federal surveys to denote irregular areas where the claim to ownership is based on bona fide rights, and Protracted Blocks, which are a buffer between surveyed areas and areas of unsurveyed (protracted) Sections, are two additional subdivisions of Townships. Sections were not normally subdivided, except in theory, by the federal surveys. The subdivisions of Sections performed by county and local surveyors, using the federal design or schema for section subdivisions, are also part of the Legal Description layer. The fabric of Townships, Sections and their subdivisions, Donation Land Claims, Tracts and Protracted Blocks comprise what is known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). These PLSS surveys are referred to as Rectangular Surveys, due to their characteristic orientation to true meridian and to the normally square-like character of the areas encompassed. Other irregular federal surveys are included in the Legal Description layer. These include Mineral Surveys, Homestead Entry Surveys, Townsites and non-rectangular Indian Allotments. Under the authority of Counties and Cities many local subdivisions of the PLSS have been created and are included in the Legal Description Layer. Local subdivisions include the streets, blocks and lots that are common in urban and suburban environments.
Name: Non-DNR Major Public Land Ownership (DNR 2016)
Display Field: NAME
Type: Feature Layer
Geometry Type: esriGeometryPolygon
Description: The NDMPL (Washington State Non-Department of Natural Resources Major Public Lands) data contains ownership parcels for Federal, State (excluding WA DNR), County and City lands within the State of Washington. It also includes Tribal administrative boundaries. The NDMPL data layer is a polygon dataset and does not contain arc attribute information for ownership boundaries. This data is not connected to WA DNR's Cadastre layers (these data include WADNR ownership, Public Land Survey System and other cadastral data). As updates are made to Cadastre layers, they may not be reflected in NDMPL.