How does the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) affect land surveys in Arizona?

The correct answer highlights that the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) plays a crucial role in defining land parcels through a systematic grid of townships and ranges. The PLSS is designed to organize land for sale and ownership in a structured manner, making it easier for land surveyors to identify, delineate, and reference land parcels. In Arizona, this grid system facilitates land identification by establishing clear boundaries based on coordinates, which are essential for accurately describing properties in legal documentation, conducting surveys, and resolving disputes regarding land ownership.

Using a grid system of townships (6-mile by 6-mile squares) and ranges (vertical columns of townships), the PLSS standardizes how land is measured and divided. This consistency is vital for a variety of land-use activities, including real estate transactions, land development, and natural resource management. The PLSS provides a framework that integrates seamlessly with legal and administrative processes related to land, making it foundational to surveying practices in Arizona and other western states that adopted this system.