As described by the National Geodetic Survey in 1993 (although already monumented back in 1986):
"THE STATION IS LOCATED ABOUT 8 KM (4.95 MI) WEST OF HOUSTON, 2 KM (1.25 MI) NORTH OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 10, IN THE TOWN OF KATY AND IN THE FRONT LAWN OF THE HOUSTON LIGHTING AND POWER COMPANY KATY SERVICE CENTER.
[...] GO WEST ON U.S. 90 1.0 MILE (1.6 KM) FROM THE INTERSECTION WITH KATY-FORT BEND RD TO THE EAST ENTRANCE DRIVE TO THE POWER COMPANY AND THE STATION ON THE LEFT.
THE STATION IS A PUNCH HOLE TOP CENTER ON A STAINLESS STEEL ROD IN A 2.5 CM GREASE FILLED SLEEVE 6.1 M (20.0 FT) LONG ENCASED IN A 12.7 CM PVC PIPE WITH A LOGO CAP SURROUNDED BY CONCRETE SET 5 CM BELOW THE GROUND. IT IS 9.6 M (31.5 FT) SOUTH FROM THE SOUTH EDGE OF HIGHWAY 90, 28.2 M (92.5 FT) NORTH-NORTHWEST FROM THE EAST GATE POST OF A LOCKED GATE TO THE PARKING AREA FOR THE FACILITY, 14.8 M (48.6 FT) WEST-NORTHWEST FROM THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE SECURITY FENCE AROUND THE PARKING AREA, 24.2 M (79.4 FT) EAST FROM A FIRE HYDRANT, 8.2 M (26.9 FT) SOUTHEAST FROM THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF A METAL DRAIN GRATE, 5.3 M (17.4 FT) EAST-NORTHEAST FROM THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE HOUSTON LIGHTING AND POWER COMPANY SIGN, AND 3.7 M (12.1 FT) WEST FROM THE WEST EDGE OF THE ENTRANCE DRIVE TO THE POWER COMPANY."
Save for the fact that the "Houston Lighting & Power" company is now "CenterPoint Energy", the NGS description is pretty accurate and should definitely assist future seekers in finding this benchmark -- alternatively, one can use the gallery images for any future attempt at actual recovery. A couple of additional comments:
* The rod is still encased in a PVC pipe, but the access cap/cover does not seem to be present anymore... or at least I could not locate it.
* Its associated NGS Data Sheet reported it as "Mark Not Found" back in 2004, however two benchmark hunters have recovered it since then: "criffree" back in 2009, and myself at the time of this waymark's posting.
* The latest NGS recorded coordinates are pretty close to my own GPSr readings (by about 13 ft, within a reasonable margin of error).
Below are some additional facts, per the NGS database (with some editing for length): (
visit link)
AW5414 ***********************************************************************
AW5414 HT_MOD - This is a Height Modernization Survey Station.
AW5414 DESIGNATION - HGCSD 24
AW5414 PID - AW5414
AW5414 STATE/COUNTY- TX/HARRIS
AW5414 COUNTRY - US
AW5414 USGS QUAD - KATY (1980)
AW5414
AW5414 *CURRENT SURVEY CONTROL
AW5414 ______________________________________________________________________
AW5414* NAD 83(2011) POSITION- 29 47 08.08887(N) 095 49 06.68925(W) ADJUSTED
AW5414* NAD 83(2011) ELLIP HT- 15.430 (meters) (06/27/12) ADJUSTED
AW5414* NAD 83(2011) EPOCH - 2010.00
AW5414* NAVD 88 ORTHO HEIGHT - 42.83 (meters) 140.5 (feet) GPS OBS
AW5414
AW5414_MARKER: I = METAL ROD
AW5414_SETTING: 59 = STAINLESS STEEL ROD IN SLEEVE (10 FT.+)
AW5414_SP_SET: STAINLESS STEEL ROD IN SLEEVE
AW5414_STAMPING: HGCSD 24 1986
AW5414_MARK LOGO: NGS
AW5414_PROJECTION: FLUSH
AW5414_MAGNETIC: I = MARKER IS A STEEL ROD
AW5414_STABILITY: A = MOST RELIABLE AND EXPECTED TO HOLD
AW5414+STABILITY: POSITION/ELEVATION WELL
AW5414_SATELLITE: THE SITE LOCATION WAS REPORTED AS SUITABLE FOR
AW5414+SATELLITE: SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS - November 21, 1994
AW5414_ROD/PIPE-DEPTH: 11.6 meters
AW5414_SLEEVE-DEPTH : 6.1 meters
AW5414
AW5414 HISTORY - Date Condition Report By
AW5414 HISTORY - 1986 MONUMENTED NGS
AW5414 HISTORY - 1987 GOOD NGS
AW5414 HISTORY - 19930309 GOOD NGS
AW5414 HISTORY - 19940625 GOOD USPSQD
AW5414 HISTORY - 19941121 GOOD HGCSD
AW5414 HISTORY - 20041013 MARK NOT FOUND USPSQD