As described by the National Geodetic Survey in 1974:
"IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE CITY OF KATY, ON CITY PROPERTY, ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROPOSED NEW MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 90 FEET WEST OF THE CENTER PIPE OF A CITY WATER TANK, AND 8 FEET NORTH OF THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE PROPOSED CITY LIBRARY BUILDING, AND SET IN A DRILL HOLE IN THE 7 X7-FOOT CONCRETE BASE OF A CITY WATER PUMP AND PROJECTING 1-INCH ABOVE GROUND LEVEL."
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. Just a point of clarification on buildings: the referenced "proposed city library building" is now the Municipal Building Annex... there is no library in the area anymore, but all referenced buildings are still public property so one can approach to within 2 feet of the actual BM in question (even though it is now behind a fence protecting the nearby water tower).
The NGS' 1974 coordinates, however, were a little off (as is to be expected, it happens all the time with older benchmarks). The NGS originally reported it at "N 29° 47.217 W 095° 49.350" back in 1974 (about ~260 ft SSE away, on another city block), but apparently the most recent associated NGS Data Sheet now reports it as "N 29 47 15.39 W 095 49 22.31" (i.e. "N 29° 47.257 W 095° 49.372"), which is pretty close to my personal GPSr readings while I was there.
Below are some additional facts, per the NGS database (with some editing for length): (
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AW4579 ***********************************************************************
AW4579 DESIGNATION - KATY 2 RM 4
AW4579 PID - AW4579
AW4579 STATE/COUNTY- TX/HARRIS
AW4579 COUNTRY - US
AW4579 USGS QUAD - KATY (1980)
AW4579
AW4579 *CURRENT SURVEY CONTROL
AW4579 ______________________________________________________________________
AW4579* NAD 83(1986) POSITION- 29 47 15.39 (N) 095 49 22.31 (W) HD_HELD1
AW4579* NAVD 88 ORTHO HEIGHT - 43.24 (+/-2cm) 141.9 (feet) VERTCON
AW4579
AW4579_MARKER: DR = REFERENCE MARK DISK
AW4579_SETTING: 30 = SET IN A LIGHT STRUCTURE
AW4579_SP_SET: BASE
AW4579_STAMPING: KATY 2 NO 4 1974
AW4579_STABILITY: D = MARK OF QUESTIONABLE OR UNKNOWN STABILITY
AW4579_SATELLITE: THE SITE LOCATION WAS REPORTED AS NOT SUITABLE FOR
AW4579+SATELLITE: SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS - October 27, 2004
AW4579
AW4579 HISTORY - Date Condition Report By
AW4579 HISTORY - 1974 MONUMENTED NGS
AW4579 HISTORY - 1990 GOOD USPSQD
AW4579 HISTORY - 20041013 MARK NOT FOUND USPSQD
AW4579 HISTORY - 20041027 GOOD USPSQD