Missouri River Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) Surveys

Medium

Disclaimer

The work completed under these contracts are to delineate the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) and are not a final legal determination as to whether any specific property is “sovereign land”.
By clicking any forms, or links, you are confirming you have read and understand this disclaimer.

The downloadable files below are in PDF format unless otherwise noted. If you need Adobe Reader, please go to www.adobe.com to download the free reader. If you wish to save a map to your computer, use the right mouse button to select the map and use the "Save Target As" option.

Medium

Ordinary High Water Mark Delineation of the Yellowstone River and Missouri River (from the ND/MT Border to Hwy 85 Bridge):

Survey Maps

The acreage maps and the high resolution 2009 aerial photography maps with the OHWM delineation overlays each contained within separate PDF files.

If you wish to save a map to your computer, use the right mouse button to select the map and use the "Save Target As" option.

Note: If you downloaded the "Final Maps Aerials.PDF" before 9:00 a.m. on December 1st, it is recommended that you download a new copy. Maps 16-26 had a slight shift of about 20 feet in how the OHWM line overlaid on the aerial photograph. The underlying data is correct; it is that the aerial photograph did not line up as well as it should.

Ordinary High Water Mark Delineation of the Missouri River (from Furlong Loop to New Town, ND):

On June 26, 2008, the Board authorized the Commissioner of University and School Lands to proceed with an ordinary high water mark (OHWM) survey in cooperation with the State Engineer. The N.D.C.C. 61-33-01 defines sovereign land as “…those areas, including beds and islands, lying within the ordinary high watermark of navigable lakes and streams…” While the results of this study may be used to identify the location of sovereign land ownership, the survey in and of itself was conducted solely to determine the ordinary high water mark and the acres of land below that mark.

Bartlett and West has completed the final report for Task Order #2 of the contract to delineate the OHWM on the Missouri River from the Furlong Loop to New Town, ND. Task Order #2 delineated the OHWM of the Missouri River prior to the completion of the Garrison Dam. The Missouri River from the Furlong Loop downstream to the Hwy 85 Bridge near the city of Williston was delineated under Task Orders #1 and #3 for the current OHWM. The report and supporting maps and documentation for Task Order #2 are available to download and print on this web site.

Ordinary High Water Mark Delineation of the Missouri River (from New Town, ND to Garrison Dam):

On June 26, 2008, the Board authorized the Commissioner of University and School Lands to proceed with an ordinary high water mark (OHWM) survey in cooperation with the State Engineer. The N.D.C.C. 61-33-01 defines sovereign land as “…those areas, including beds and islands, lying within the ordinary high watermark of navigable lakes and streams…” While the results of this study may be used to identify the location of sovereign land ownership, the survey in and of itself was conducted solely to determine the ordinary high water mark and the acres of land below that mark.

Bartlett and West has completed the final report for Task Order #4 of the contract to delineate the OHWM on the Missouri River from New Town, ND to the Garrison Dam. Task Order #4 delineated the OHWM of the Missouri River prior to the completion of the Garrison Dam. The report and supporting maps and documentation for Task Order #4 are available to download and print on this web site.