Example: the completed form

Filled in for the Alder Brook property, a made-up easement.

Visit details

Property and easement: Alder Brook, easement granted 2009; landowners Paul and Rita Senft
Monitor and date: C. Abara, October 3, 9:00 to 1:30, overcast, 58 °F
Present: Paul Senft for the building area
How monitored: On foot, By vehicle
Documents read before the visit: Easement deed, Baseline documentation report, Last monitoring report, Approvals since last visit

At a glance

PP1 · Gate on the county road
PP2 · New culvert, lane width unchanged · Farm lane at the brook
PP4 · Run-in shed, about 12 by 24 ft, east of the barn · Barn, from the drive
PP6 · North woods edge

Sign-off

C. Abara, October 3

Fictional example

Observations

PP1

Point: PP1 · Location: Gate on the county road · Direction: 45° · Against the baseline: Same · What changed: · Photo: P1

PP2

Point: PP2 · Location: Farm lane at the brook · Direction: 90° · Against the baseline: Changed · What changed: New culvert, lane width unchanged · Photo: P2, P3

PP4

Point: PP4 · Location: Barn, from the drive · Direction: 180° · Against the baseline: Changed · What changed: Run-in shed, about 12 by 24 ft, east of the barn · Photo: P5

PP6

Point: PP6 · Location: North woods edge · Direction: 0° · Against the baseline: Same · What changed: · Photo: P7

Contact before the visit

Phone, September 24; walk any day that week

Changes the landowner reported

Replaced the culvert on the farm lane in May. Put up a run-in shed for two horses.

Plans that may need approval

Thinking about a timber sale in the north woods in two years. Told him a harvest plan needs approval first.

Structures and building area

Run-in shed east of the barn. Position against the building envelope on the baseline map to be checked by staff.

Boundary, fences and subdivision

Boundary walked on the west and north. Neighbor’s mowing extends about 15 ft past the west line near PP3.

Clearing, timber, fill or dumping

None seen.

Roads, trails and utilities

Culvert replaced on the farm lane; no widening

Farm use and conservation values

Hayfields cut, as in the baseline. Brook buffer intact.

Possible issues

Run-in shed location against the building envelope (P5). Neighbor mowing past the west line (P4).

Status

Question for staff

Follow-up

Staff to check the shed against the baseline map by October 17; letter to the neighbor if needed

Filling in the easement monitoring report

Bring the comparison records. List the deed, baseline maps and photos, approvals and last monitoring report with their dates.
Repeat the view. Record the point ID, location and view direction. Match the photo to its baseline image. If the point is inaccessible, explain the alternate view and list ground you did not reach.
Send changed conditions for review. Describe the visible change and attribute the landowner’s account. Keep the holder’s response, person responsible and next date with the finding.

Repeat photo points for easement monitoring

The next monitor should be able to stand at the same point and find the same view. Point identity and direction matter as much as the photo. A changed fence or new structure can then be described for the holder against the relevant baseline reference.

Use the holder’s deed, baseline, current approvals and required monitoring form to plan the visit. NRCS’s monitoring manual, Part 527, Subpart P describes document review for its easement programs; the property’s documents and holder’s procedure control your work.

Arrange access and bring forward unresolved findings. A new structure or changed fence needs a location, photos and a baseline reference for the holder to review. The worksheet records observations; it does not decide whether a change violates the deed.

Easement monitoring template for repeat visits