U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Datums Page Page 1 of 7
Station ID: 8465233 PUBLICATION DATE: 05/15/2003
Name: BRANFORD, BRANFORD RIVER
CT
NOAA Chart: 12373 Latitude: 41° 15.7' N ( 41.26170)
USGS Quad: Branford Longitude: 72° 49.1' W ( -72.81830)
To reach the tidal bench marks from the intersection of U.S. Highway 1 and State
Highway 142 in Branford, proceed south on State Highway 142 for 1.0 km (0.6 mi),
then turn left and go SE on Stannard Avenue for 1.1 km (0.7 mi) to a four-way
stop intersection, then go straight on Goodsell Point Road for 0.3 km (0.2 mi)
to Branford Yacht Club on the right. The bench marks are along Goodsell Point
Road and Harbor Street near Branford Point. The tide gage and staff were at the
south end of the westernmost pier at Branford Yacht Club.
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
PRIMARY BENCH MARK STAMPING: 5233 A 1989
DESIGNATION: 846 5233 A
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 4826
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete retaining wall OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 15.7' N ( 41.26170) LONGITUDE: 72° 49.1' W ( -72.81830)
The primary bench mark is a disk set flush in the SE end of a concrete retaining
wall along the waterfront at Branford Yacht Club, 7.74 m (25.4 ft) SE of the NW
end of the wall, 7.56 m (24.8 ft) SSW of the SW corner of the concrete base of a
flagpole in the SE yard of the club, 7.25 m (23.8 ft) NE of the edge of the
bulkhead, and 0.91 m (3.0 ft) above the pavement.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 2 of 7
Station ID: 8465233 PUBLICATION DATE: 05/15/2003
Name: BRANFORD, BRANFORD RIVER
CT
NOAA Chart: 12373 Latitude: 41° 15.7' N ( 41.26170)
USGS Quad: Branford Longitude: 72° 49.1' W ( -72.81830)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: Z 3 1922 ELV 29.537 FT
DESIGNATION: Z 3
MONUMENTATION: Bench Mark disk VM#: 4824
AGENCY: US Coast and Geodetic Survey
(USC&GS) IDB PID#: LX0410
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Bedrock OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 16.5' N ( 41.27500) LONGITUDE: 72° 49.5' W ( -72.82500)
The bench mark is a disk set in bedrock at the west end of a rock cut which is
30 m (100 ft) long and 6 m (20 ft) high at its highest point, along the New
York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad, 0.5 km (0.3 mi) east of the overpass
over U.S. Highway 1, 0.2 km (0.1 mi) west of the Bridge Street overpass, 2.71 m
(8.9 ft) north of the north rail of the north one of two tracks, 0.34 m (1.1 ft)
north of the south edge of the rock, and 1 m (2 ft) above the level of the
track.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 3 of 7
Station ID: 8465233 PUBLICATION DATE: 05/15/2003
Name: BRANFORD, BRANFORD RIVER
CT
NOAA Chart: 12373 Latitude: 41° 15.7' N ( 41.26170)
USGS Quad: Branford Longitude: 72° 49.1' W ( -72.81830)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: E 35 1965
DESIGNATION: E 35
MONUMENTATION: Bench Mark disk VM#: 4825
AGENCY: US Coast and Geodetic Survey
(USC&GS) IDB PID#: LX0409
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete head wall OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 16.5' N ( 41.27500) LONGITUDE: 72° 49.8' W ( -72.83000)
The bench mark is a disk set in top of the south end of the west concrete head
wall of a 2 m ( 6 ft) arched culvert, at the overpass of the New York, New
Haven, and Hartford Railroad over U.S. Highway 1, 0.2 km (0.1 mi) west along
U.S. Highway 1 from its intersection with State Highway 146 (Main Street), 16 m
(51 ft) NE of the NE end of the NW abutment of the railroad overpass, 2.90 m
(9.5 ft) NW of the NW curb of the highway, 0.34 m (1.1 ft) north of the south
end of the head wall, and 0.3 m (1 ft) above the level of the highway.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 5233 B 1989
DESIGNATION: 846 5233 B
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 4827
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Bedrock OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 15.7' N ( 41.26170) LONGITUDE: 72° 49.1' W ( -72.81830)
The bench mark is a disk set in bedrock at Parker Memorial Park on Harbor Street
near Branford Point, 53 m (174 ft) WSW of the NW corner of the southernmost
entrance pillar to the park, 51 m (167 ft) SSE of the SW corner of the public
restrooms building, and 6 m (21 ft) west of a 1 m (2 ft) diameter maple tree.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 4 of 7
Station ID: 8465233 PUBLICATION DATE: 05/15/2003
Name: BRANFORD, BRANFORD RIVER
CT
NOAA Chart: 12373 Latitude: 41° 15.7' N ( 41.26170)
USGS Quad: Branford Longitude: 72° 49.1' W ( -72.81830)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 5233 C 1989
DESIGNATION: 846 5233 C
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 4828
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Bedrock OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 15.7' N ( 41.26170) LONGITUDE: 72° 49.1' W ( -72.81830)
The bench mark is a disk set in bedrock at Parker Memorial Park, along a path 55
m (180 ft) SW of Bench Mark 5233 B 1989, 34 m (110 ft) WNW of the SW corner of
the concrete block bath house, 29 m (96 ft) NNW of the concrete and stone sea
wall on Branford Harbor, and 0.76 m (2.5 ft) above the path.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 5233 D 1989
DESIGNATION: 846 5233 D
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 4829
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Stainless steel rod OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 15.7' N ( 41.26170) LONGITUDE: 72° 49.1' W ( -72.81830)
The bench mark is a disk located at the NE corner of the intersection of Harbor
Street, Goodsell Point Road, and Stannard Street, 7.13 m (23.4 ft) NE of the
centerline of Goodsell Point Road, 6.61 m (21.7 ft) SE of the centerline of
Harbor Street, 1.89 m (6.2 ft) east of CL&P power pole No. 44416, and 0.30 m
(1.0 ft) NE of a witness post next to a hedge. The bench mark is set 0.1 m (0.3
ft) below ground level, crimped to a stainless steel rod, driven 17.1 m (56 ft)
to substantial resistance, and encased in a 5-inch PVC pipe and concrete
kickblock.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 5 of 7
Station ID: 8465233 PUBLICATION DATE: 05/15/2003
Name: BRANFORD, BRANFORD RIVER
CT
NOAA Chart: 12373 Latitude: 41° 15.7' N ( 41.26170)
USGS Quad: Branford Longitude: 72° 49.1' W ( -72.81830)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING:
DESIGNATION: 846 5233 NO STAMPING 1
MONUMENTATION: See descriptive text VM#: 4830
AGENCY: IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Bedrock OPUS PID#: BBFN83
LATITUDE: 41° 15.7' N ( 41.26170) LONGITUDE: 72° 49.1' W ( -72.81830)
The bench mark is a brass plug set in bedrock within a green painted triangle,
at nearly the highest point at the town dock on Branford Point, 19.35 m (63.5
ft) WNW of the north end of the stone sea wall on the west side of the town
dock, 5.64 m (18.5 ft) west of the SE corner of an abandoned concrete
foundation, and 0.58 m (1.9 ft) SW of the SW corner of the foundation. Note:
mark is designated B-20 with the Branford Town Engineer.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 6 of 7
Station ID: 8465233 PUBLICATION DATE: 05/15/2003
Name: BRANFORD, BRANFORD RIVER
CT
NOAA Chart: 12373 Latitude: 41° 15.7' N ( 41.26170)
USGS Quad: Branford Longitude: 72° 49.1' W ( -72.81830)
T I D A L D A T U M S
Tidal datums at BRANFORD, BRANFORD RIVER based on:
LENGTH OF SERIES: 4 MONTHS
TIME PERIOD: July 1989 - October 1989
TIDAL EPOCH: 1983-2001
CONTROL TIDE STATION: 8467150 BRIDGEPORT, BRIDGEPORT HARBOR
Elevations of tidal datums referred to Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), in METERS:
MEAN HIGHER HIGH WATER MHHW = 1.948
MEAN HIGH WATER MHW = 1.852
North American Vertical Datum NAVD88 = 1.042
MEAN TIDE LEVEL MTL = 0.961
MEAN SEA LEVEL MSL = 0.956
MEAN LOW WATER MLW = 0.070
MEAN LOWER LOW WATER MLLW = 0.000
North American Vertical Datum (NAVD88)
Bench Mark Elevation Information In METERS above:
Stamping or Designation MLLW MHW
5233 A 1989 4.150 2.298
Z 3 1922 ELV 29.537 FT 9.726 7.874
E 35 1965 6.144 4.292
5233 B 1989 7.906 6.054
5233 C 1989 9.044 7.192
5233 D 1989 8.553 6.701
846 5233 NO STAMPING 1 5.837 3.985
Foot Notes:
Bench marks Z 3 1922 ELV 29.537 FT and E 35 1965 are based on one differential
leveling connection and do not meet the quality control standards of the NOS.
Therefore, caution should be used when deriving elevations for these marks.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 7 of 7
Station ID: 8465233 PUBLICATION DATE: 05/15/2003
Name: BRANFORD, BRANFORD RIVER
CT
NOAA Chart: 12373 Latitude: 41° 15.7' N ( 41.26170)
USGS Quad: Branford Longitude: 72° 49.1' W ( -72.81830)
D E F I N I T I O N S
Mean Sea Level (MSL) is a tidal datum determined over a 19-year National Tidal
Datum Epoch. It pertains to local mean sea level and should not be confused
with the fixed datums of North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88).
NAVD88 is a fixed datum derived from a simultaneous, least squares, minimum
constraint adjustment of Canadian/Mexican/United States leveling observations.
Local mean sea level observed at Father Point/Rimouski, Canada was held fixed as
the single initial constraint. NAVD88 replaces NGVD29 as the national
standard geodetic reference for heights. Bench mark elevations relative to
NAVD88 are available from NGS through the World Wide Web at
National Geodetic Survey.
NGVD29 is a fixed datum adopted as a national standard geodetic reference for
heights but is now considered superseded. NGVD29 is sometimes referred to as
Sea Level Datum of 1929 or as Mean Sea Level on some early issues of Geological
Survey Topographic Quads. NGVD29 was originally derived from a general
adjustment of the first-order leveling networks of the U.S. and Canada after
holding mean sea level observed at 26 long term tide stations as fixed.
Numerous local and wide-spread adjustments have been made since establishment in
1929. Bench mark elevations relative to NGVD29 are available from the National
Geodetic Survey (NGS) data base via the World Wide Web at
National Geodetic Survey.
NAVD88 and NGVD29 are fixed geodetic datums whose elevation relationships to
local MSL and other tidal datums may not be consistent from one location to
another.
The Vertical Mark Number (VM#) and PID# shown on the bench mark sheet are unique
identifiers for bench marks in the tidal and geodetic databases, respectively.
Each bench mark in either database has a single, unique VM# and/or PID# assigned.
Where both VM# and PID# are indicated, both tidal and geodetic elevations are
available for the bench mark listed. The NGS's Integrated Data Base (IDB PID)
provides geodetic datum based on traditionally leveled and bluebooked ties to
the National Spatial Reference System(NSRS) https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/datasheets/.
The NGS Online Positioning User Service (OPUS PID) provides geodetic datum based
on GPS position & tie it to the NSRS https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/OPUS/.
The NAVD88 elevation is shown on the Elevations of Tidal Datums Table Referred
to MLLW only when two or more of the bench marks listed have NAVD88 elevations.
The NAVD88 elevation relationship shown in the table is derived from an average
of several bench mark elevations relative to tide station datum. As a result of
this averaging, NAVD88 bench mark elevations computed indirectly from the tidal
datums elevation table may differ slightly from NAVD88 elevations listed for
each bench mark in the NGS database.