[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 27587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12537]



[[Page 27587]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ES-030-1430-BJ, ES-051868, Group 551, Minnesota]


Notice of Filing of Plat of an Island; Minnesota

    1. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will officially file the 
plat of the planimetric survey of an island in Two Inlets Lake, 
Township 141 North, Range 36 West, Fifth Principal Meridian, Minnesota, 
accepted on May 6, 2003, in the Eastern States Office, Springfield, 
Virginia, 30 calendar days from the date of publication in the Federal 
Register. The tract shown below describes the island omitted from the 
original survey.
Fifth Principal Meridian, Minnesota T. 141 N. R. 36 W. Tract No. 37
    2. Tract No. 37, Lakes States County Sequential Control No. 001, 
Becker County, is firm land rising 10-15 ft. above the ordinary high 
water mark. The north and northeast sides of the island have a well 
defined bank, 2-3 ft. high. The soil composition is of glacial till 
topped with a layer of humus 6-9 in. deep and is similar to the soil 
found on the adjacent uplands. Several large stumpholes from wind-
thrown trees were observed on the island. Tree species consist of 
aspen, clump basswood, balsam fir, elm, and birch, ranging in size from 
4 to 23 inches in diameter, with a maximum age of 75+ years. The ground 
cover consists of sapling trees, briar, hazel, cranberry, sumac and 
native grasses.
    3. MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has recorded the water 
levels of Two Inlets Lake from 1938 to the present. The MN DNR reports 
the average water level for this period to be 1456.09 ft. NGVD 1929. 
The DNR reading taken closest to the date of the aerial imagery was 
recorded on May 5, 1991, as 1456.21 ft. NGVD 1929. The present water 
level of the lake agrees with the levels reported by the MN DNR. The 
record meander line was overlaid to scale on the 1991 aerial imagery 
and found to compare favorably. The open water channel between the 
south end of the island and the adjoining upland is 4 chains across and 
averages 10 feet deep.
    4. The upland character of this island along with the depth and 
width of the channel attests to its existence in 1858 when Minnesota 
was admitted to the Union; in 1878 at the time of the original survey; 
and at all subsequent dates.
    5. The island returned by this plat is classified as being more 
than 50 percent upland in character within the purview of the Swamp and 
Overflow Act of September 28, 1850 (9 Stat. 519) as extended to the 
State of Minnesota under the Act of March 12, 1860 (12 Stat. 3).
    6. The survey was requested by the Assistant Field Manager, 
Division of Natural Resource Management, under the authority of the 
Minnesota Public Lands Improvement Act (MPLIA) of 1990, Pub. L. 101-442 
(104 Stat. 1020).
    7. Except for valid existing rights, this island will not be 
subject to application, petition, location or selection under any 
public law until 30 calendar days after the date of publication in the 
Federal Register.
    8. Interested parties protesting the determination that this island 
is public land of the United States, must present valid proof showing 
that the island did not exist at the time of statehood or that it was 
attached to the mainland at the time of the original survey. Such 
protests must be submitted in writing to the Chief Cadastral Surveyor, 
Eastern States, Bureau of Land Management, 7450 Boston Boulevard, 
Springfield, Virginia 22153, prior to the date of the official filing.
    We will place a copy of the plat we described in the open files. 
Copies of the plat will be made available upon request and prepayment 
of the appropriate fee.

    Dated: May 13, 2003.
Stephen D. Douglas,
Chief Cadastral Surveyor.
[FR Doc. 03-12537 Filed 5-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GJ-P