Land Surveying

Thurston County * Mason County * Pierce County * Lewis County * Grays Harbor County

A survey should be made before purchasing real property, when dividing any parcel of land for sale or when adjusting existing parcel boundaries (in conformance with state laws and local ordinances), and prior to any construction of any improvements on the property in which you have an interest. For municipal organizations, right of way control and topographic surveys need to be completed in order to assure that project improvements are placed within the right of way or construction easement area.

Surveying and mapping are cooperative operations. Therefore good interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a team are important. The JWM&A Surveying Team is comprised of personnel with strong technical skills which results in precision and accuracy throughout our projects.

JWM&A specializes in:

- A.L.T.A. Surveys
- Boundary Surveys
- Construction Surveys
- Location Surveys
- Formal Plats
- Short Plats
- Subdivisions
- Topographical Surveys
- Elevation Certificates, LOMA and LOMR
- Retracement Surveys
- Wetland Delineation Location Surveys

JWM&A is committed to bringing you the highest quality professional land surveying services available.

Our registered Professional Land Surveyor: Dennis R. Baker, P.L.S., Director of Land Surveying Services is responsible for the overall operation of our survey department. His wide range of experience makes him the excellent choice for any type of survey project presented to him. Dennis's ability to adapt leading edge technology, sound surveying practice and innovative problem solving to traditional surveying and mapping projects provides a superior product in a cost effective and timely manner. Dennis has surveying experience since 1986, and has been licensed in the state of Washington since 1999 (#35972).

Dennis started his career as Party Chief responsible for leading field crews and responsible for all field work for independent Land Surveying/Engineering firms located in Washington.

Mr. Baker has a Bachelor of Arts in Arts & Science, and a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources, Logging Engineering. During college one of his many accomplishments as a Forest Technician included being one out of two students selected from the University of Washington and Oregon to lead a survey crew to survey property boundaries in Northern California.


In 1992 as Party Chief for a firm in Kent, Washington, Dennis conducted a dependent resurvey for the United States Forest Service of six sections involving two townships and two ranges near Forks, Washington. This work included posting over 11 miles of national park boundary line and establishing and setting monuments for 28 Public Land Survey System (PLSS) corners.

Dennis has also organized data collection for various projects such as topographically mapping sites for fish hatcheries and hydroelectric power plants including underwater areas.

As JWM&A's Director of Land Surveying, Dennis provides land surveying services for private clients, developers, municipalities and state government. His professional services include formal and short plats, large lot subdivisions, boundary surveys, boundary line adjustments, agreements and staking; establishing and locating right of way control, construction staking; location and topographic surveys. Dennis has been and is responsible for training, contracting, research, calculations, electronic drafting, analysis of field work, writing legal descriptions, drafting maps, and processing and coordinating land use applications for approvals.

Dennis' philosophy is that we not only provide services for construction and development, but we also aid families in sustaining traditions, maintaining legacies and creating inheritances, for generations to come.

Dennis believes that continuing education and refresher courses are not only a good idea, but are a necessity. Ongoing competence requires an ongoing process of continuing education which is necessary for a professional to remain up to date with the latest technologies and knowledge.

His certifications and continuing education include: (In 2010) A Presentation of the New Washington State Common Law of Surveys and Property Boundaries; PLSS 21st Century (Parts 1 & 2); Thinking Beyond Technology; Boundary Line Agreements vs Adjustments; Riparian and Littoral Rights. (In 2009) Proper Use of Boundary Line Agreements and Adjustments; Surveying and Boundaries; Boundary Control and Legal Principals; Condominium Laws and Procedures. (In 2008) Aiders of the Lost Art of Surveying. (In 2007) Stability and Bona Fide Rights in the Public Land System; Understanding State Plane Coordinates and Flood Insurance Mapping Issues and Flood Plain Development Technical Guidance.

Surveys are conducted to measure distances, directions, and angles between points on, above, and below the Earth's surface. In the field our survey crews select known survey reference points and determine the precise locations of important features in the project area using specialized equipment.

JWM&A surveying technicians are highly trained in conventional surveying. They operate state of the art equipment such as Robotic Total Station Instruments, which allows one person operation while measuring from behind the instrument or from the rod.

At JWM&A we also utilize Global Positioning System (GPS) to locate points of interest. To use this system a surveyor places a satellite signal receiver on a point, and another receiver on a point for which the geographic position is known. The receiver simultaneously collects information from several satellites and the known reference point to establish a precise position. For the unknown point Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used to assemble, integrate, analyze, and display data about a location in digital format. GIS is typically used to make maps which combine information useful for engineering, planning, and other disciplines.

The JWM&A team has completed construction and project surveying in conjunction with our project engineering services since 1978. These have been completed with the use of our total stations and data collectors. This has allowed very efficient importing of data into AutoCAD for base mapping and plan preparation. Here at JWM&A, we find that it is most beneficial to use the same personnel to conduct the construction staking that performed the topographical survey. This practice creates maximum efficiency and effectiveness for our clients.

Dennis has a clear understanding of what it takes to provide professional land surveying services and have successful project outcomes for all the parties involved. It is through the timely completion of cost effective surveying services that Dennis has proven himself to be a highly valued team player for JWM&A.

The JWM&A technicians under Dennis's lead usually work an eight hour day, five days a week and spend a majority of their time outdoors. Sometimes they work longer hours during the summer, when weather and light conditions are the most suitable for field work. They often stand for long periods, walk considerable distances, and climb hills with heavy packs of instruments and other equipment.

The technicians also work with Dennis in the office planning surveys, researching records, analyzing data and deed information and preparing maps. The JWM&A team is successful in providing land surveying services to public and private parties due to our strong technical skills, which allows our personnel to work as a team or independently, in a highly organized fashion.

JWM&A understands the importance of project management. We have dedicated staff and the right tools to provide superior service. We have provided successful survey and engineering services for numerous sanitary sewer, water systems, roadway and storm drainage projects.

JWM&A has an excellent track record of past performance. We pride ourselves on completing each project by providing the proper degree of professional services, while staying within the project budget. We are a Thurston County based company dedicated to serving you with the highest quality of professional land surveying services available.