Angie Craig: “today I introduce this bill, Spirit Lake and Twin Lakes Omitted Lands Act of 2002 to help resolve a land ownership…”

“today I introduce this bill, Spirit Lake and Twin Lakes Omitted Lands Act of 2002 to help resolve a land ownership problem that affects over 400 private property owners and homeowners located around Spirit Lake and Twin Lakes in Kootenai County, ID. In 1880, a public land survey prepared under contract with the General Land Office, grossly misrepresented portions of the actual lakeshore of the two lakes. The surveys show the meander lines along the lakes up to one-half mile away from their actual location. The errors were not discovered until recently. Over the years, the shorelines of these popular lakes have become heavily developed and property owners have purchased their property and held it in good faith ownership. Most of the property owners affected by this situation have a chain of title that goes back over 100 years. Due to the inaccuracy of the original government survey, county officials have expressed concern regarding their inability to approve and regulate new developments, surveys, permits, etc. The Bureau of Land Management, the responsible Federal agency, has determined that it has no interest in the affected land and wishes only to remove the cloud on the titles.”