U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Datums Page Page 1 of 8
Station ID: 8720767 PUBLICATION DATE: 11/01/2011
Name: BUFFALO BLUFF, ST. JOHNS RIVER
FL
NOAA Chart: 11495 Latitude: 29° 35.7' N ( 29.59500)
USGS Quad: SATSUMA Longitude: 81° 40.9' W ( -81.68170)
To reach the tidal bench marks from the junction of County Road C-309 and U.S.
Highway 17 in Satsuma, proceed north on U.S. Highway 17 for 1.53 km (0.95 mi) to
the junction of County Road C-309 (Buffalo Bluff), turn left on County Road
C-309B and go NW for 3.14 km (1.95 mi) to the junction of a private driveway
leading NE, turn right on the private driveway and go NE crossing the railroad
tracks for about 30.48 m (100.0 ft) to the junction of a dirt road parallel to
the railroad tracks, turn left on the dirt road and go north for 0.97 km (0.6
mi) to the railroad bridge. The bench marks are in the vicinity of the railroad
bridge. The tide gage and staff are attached to the east end of a wooden dock
on the NE side of the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Tracks.
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
PRIMARY BENCH MARK STAMPING: 0767 B 1978
DESIGNATION: 872 0767 B TIDAL
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 5249
AGENCY: National Ocean Survey (NOS) IDB PID#: AQ2567
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete bridge pier foundation OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 29° 35.7' N ( 29.59472) LONGITUDE: 81° 41.0' W ( -81.68250)
The primary bench mark is a disk set flush in the SW corner of the concrete pier
foundation at the south end of the drawbridge span, about 1.46 m (4.8 ft) below
the level of the railroad tracks, 83.82 m (275.0 ft) north of bench mark 0767 A
1978, 11.58 m (38.0 ft) west of the drawbridge control house at the center of
the bridge, and 1.52 m (5.0 ft) north of the south edge of the pier foundation.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 2 of 8
Station ID: 8720767 PUBLICATION DATE: 11/01/2011
Name: BUFFALO BLUFF, ST. JOHNS RIVER
FL
NOAA Chart: 11495 Latitude: 29° 35.7' N ( 29.59500)
USGS Quad: SATSUMA Longitude: 81° 40.9' W ( -81.68170)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 0767 A 1978
DESIGNATION: 872 0767 A TIDAL
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 5248
AGENCY: National Ocean Survey (NOS) IDB PID#: AQ2566
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete wing wall OPUS PID#: AQ2566
LATITUDE: 29° 35.6' N ( 29.59361) LONGITUDE: 81° 40.9' W ( -81.68167)
The bench mark is a disk set flush in the concrete wing wall at the SW corner of
the bridge, 43.77 m (143.6 ft) NW of the NW corner of the bridge tenders
residence, 6.10 m (20.0 ft) NW of the south shoreline, 5.49 m (18.0 ft) SW of
the centerline of the railroad tracks, and 2.71 m (8.9 ft) west of the handrail
on the west side of the bridge.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 0767 C 1978
DESIGNATION: 872 0767 C TIDAL
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 5250
AGENCY: National Ocean Survey (NOS) IDB PID#: AQ2568
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete wing wall OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 29° 35.7' N ( 29.59583) LONGITUDE: 81° 41.0' W ( -81.68333)
The bench mark is a disk set flush in the concrete wingwall at the NW corner of
the bridge, 185.93 m (610.0 ft) NNW of bench mark 0767 B 1978, 7.62 m (25.0 ft)
south of a telephone box at the NW corner of the bridge, and 3.51 m (11.5 ft)
west of the centerline of the railroad tracks.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 3 of 8
Station ID: 8720767 PUBLICATION DATE: 11/01/2011
Name: BUFFALO BLUFF, ST. JOHNS RIVER
FL
NOAA Chart: 11495 Latitude: 29° 35.7' N ( 29.59500)
USGS Quad: SATSUMA Longitude: 81° 40.9' W ( -81.68170)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 0767 D 1978
DESIGNATION: 872 0767 D TIDAL
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 16573
AGENCY: National Ocean Survey (NOS) IDB PID#: AQ2565
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete signal light base OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 29° 35.6' N ( 29.59361) LONGITUDE: 81° 40.9' W ( -81.68139)
The bench mark is a disk set flush in the SW corner of the concrete base of the
southern drawbridge signal light, 42.67 m (145.0 ft) south of the southern end
of the concrete railroad bridge, 3.51 m (11.5 ft) west of the bridge tenders
residence, and 0.55 m (1.8 ft) SW of the signal support frame.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 4 of 8
Station ID: 8720767 PUBLICATION DATE: 11/01/2011
Name: BUFFALO BLUFF, ST. JOHNS RIVER
FL
NOAA Chart: 11495 Latitude: 29° 35.7' N ( 29.59500)
USGS Quad: SATSUMA Longitude: 81° 40.9' W ( -81.68170)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: PUT 17 1985 BSM
DESIGNATION: PUT 17
MONUMENTATION: Bench Mark disk VM#: 17687
AGENCY: Florida Department of Natural Resources
(FLDNR) IDB PID#: AQ2563
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete culvert headwall OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 29° 34.5' N ( 29.57444) LONGITUDE: 81° 40.1' W ( -81.66861)
The bench mark is a disk set flush in the top of the concrete headwall about
0.30 m (1.0 ft) below the level of C-309B (Buffalo Bluff Road, northerly on U.S.
Highway 17 for 1.53 km (0.95 mi) to the junction of County Road C-309B, left on
C-309B and NW for 1.69 km (1.05 mi) to the mark on the right.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 5 of 8
Station ID: 8720767 PUBLICATION DATE: 11/01/2011
Name: BUFFALO BLUFF, ST. JOHNS RIVER
FL
NOAA Chart: 11495 Latitude: 29° 35.7' N ( 29.59500)
USGS Quad: SATSUMA Longitude: 81° 40.9' W ( -81.68170)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: PUT 18 1985 BSM
DESIGNATION: PUT 18
MONUMENTATION: Bench Mark disk VM#: 17688
AGENCY: Florida Department of Natural Resources
(FLDNR) IDB PID#: AQ2564
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete culvert headwall OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 29° 34.8' N ( 29.58000) LONGITUDE: 81° 40.4' W ( -81.67389)
The bench mark is a disk set flush in the top of the concrete culvert headwall
about 0.30 m (1.0 ft) below the level of C-309B (Buffalo Bluff Road), 5.88 m
(19.3 ft) WSW of the centerline of C-309B, 0.98 m (3.2 ft) south of a witness
post, and 0.91 m (3.0 ft) south of the north end of the culvert headwall.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 0767 F 1995
DESIGNATION: 872 0767 F TIDAL
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 17689
AGENCY: Florida Dept. of Environmental
Protection (FLDEP) IDB PID#: DI9227
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Stainless steel rod OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 29° 35.3' N ( 29.58861) LONGITUDE: 81° 40.7' W ( -81.67861)
The bench mark is a stainless steel rod 31.70 m (104.0 ft) west of the center of
the railroad tracks, 29.26 m (96.0 ft) north of the approximate center of
Woodbury Trail (a dirt road leading east then north), 11.98 m (39.3 ft)NE of the
east end of the dead end of C-309B, 1.89 m (6.2 ft) north of power pole number G
and 1.80 m (5.9 ft) south of a power pole with a carsonite witness post. The
datum point is recessed 0.05 m (0.6 ft) below the level of the NOS logo cap,
being the top of a stainless steel rod, driven to refusal at an unknown depth.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 6 of 8
Station ID: 8720767 PUBLICATION DATE: 11/01/2011
Name: BUFFALO BLUFF, ST. JOHNS RIVER
FL
NOAA Chart: 11495 Latitude: 29° 35.7' N ( 29.59500)
USGS Quad: SATSUMA Longitude: 81° 40.9' W ( -81.68170)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 0767 G 1995
DESIGNATION: 872 0767 G TIDAL
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 17690
AGENCY: Florida Dept. of Environmental
Protection (FLDEP) IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Stainless steel rod OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 29° 35.1' N ( 29.58500) LONGITUDE: 81° 40.6' W ( -81.67667)
The bench mark is a stainless steel rod, 48.77 m (160.0 ft) north and across
County Road C-309B from Cody Drive, 32.40 m (106.3 ft) SW of the center of the
railroad tracks, 24.69 m 81.0 ft SE of the approximate center of a dirt road
leading NE, 15.18 m (49.8 ft) NE of the centerline of County Road C-309B, 11.37
m (37.3 ft) WNW of a power pole and 0.43 m (1.4 ft) SW of a carsonite witness
post. The datum point is recessed 0.18 m (0.6 ft) below the level of the NOS
logo cap, being the top of a stainless steel rod, driven to refusal at an
unknown depth. Note: A magnet was placed inside of the NOS logo cap.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 7 of 8
Station ID: 8720767 PUBLICATION DATE: 11/01/2011
Name: BUFFALO BLUFF, ST. JOHNS RIVER
FL
NOAA Chart: 11495 Latitude: 29° 35.7' N ( 29.59500)
USGS Quad: SATSUMA Longitude: 81° 40.9' W ( -81.68170)
T I D A L D A T U M S
Tidal datums at BUFFALO BLUFF, ST. JOHNS RIVER based on:
LENGTH OF SERIES: 1 YEAR
TIME PERIOD: October 2003 - September 2004
TIDAL EPOCH: 1983-2001
CONTROL TIDE STATION: 8720503 RED BAY POINT, ST JOHNS RIVER
Elevations of tidal datums referred to Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), in METERS:
HIGHEST OBSERVED WATER LEVEL (09/26/2004) = 1.155
MEAN HIGHER HIGH WATER MHHW = 0.346
MEAN HIGH WATER MHW = 0.339
MEAN TIDE LEVEL MTL = 0.181
MEAN SEA LEVEL MSL = 0.178
North American Vertical Datum NAVD88 = 0.173
MEAN LOW WATER MLW = 0.024
MEAN LOWER LOW WATER MLLW = 0.000
LOWEST OBSERVED WATER LEVEL (05/29/2004) = -0.408
North American Vertical Datum (NAVD88)
Bench Mark Elevation Information In METERS above:
Stamping or Designation MLLW MHW
0767 B 1978 1.771 1.432
0767 A 1978 3.361 3.022
0767 C 1978 3.294 2.955
0767 D 1978 3.370 3.031
PUT 17 1985 BSM 3.454 3.115
PUT 18 1985 BSM 2.922 2.583
0767 F 1995 3.537 3.198
0767 G 1995 3.698 3.359
Foot Notes:
Geodetic heights of the bench marks meet all NOAA/NOS/NGS quality control
standards for Second Order, Class 1 leveling. It is advised that a confirmation
set of levels be established for bench mark 0767 E 1978 to verify height
differences before using tidal bench mark elevation information.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 8 of 8
Station ID: 8720767 PUBLICATION DATE: 11/01/2011
Name: BUFFALO BLUFF, ST. JOHNS RIVER
FL
NOAA Chart: 11495 Latitude: 29° 35.7' N ( 29.59500)
USGS Quad: SATSUMA Longitude: 81° 40.9' W ( -81.68170)
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.