U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 1 of 7
Station ID: 8723970 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: VACA KEY, FLORIDA BAY
FLORIDA
NOAA Chart: 11449 Latitude: 24ø 42.7' N
USGS Quad: MARATHON Longitude: 81ø 6.3' W
To reach the tidal bench marks from the Post Office in Marathon, go WSW on U.S.
Highway 1 for 2.9 km (1.8 mi) to the U.S. Coast Guard Station Marathon. The
bench marks are in the area of the Coast Guard Station, Faro Blanco Resort, and
nearby Buccaneer Resort. The tide gage and staff are on a platform at the NW
corner of the Coast Guard boat basin.
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
PRIMARY BENCH MARK STAMPING: NO 1 1975
DESIGNATION: 872 3970 TIDAL 1
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 688
AGENCY: National Ocean Survey (NOS) PID#: AA0896
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Foundation of lighthouse
The primary bench mark is a disk set flush in the foundation for the
Lighthouse/Dockmaster Office at the Faro Blanco Marina, about 0.2 km (0.1 mi)
north of U.S. Highway 1, 31.94 m (104.8 ft) north of the south end of the dock,
5.79 m (19.0 ft) SE of the center of a door on the SE side of the building,
3.17 m (10.4 ft) west of the east side of a wooden dock, and 0.3 m (1 ft) north
of the south side of a concrete base for a lighthouse.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: R 273 1966
DESIGNATION: R 273
MONUMENTATION: Bench Mark disk VM#: 691
AGENCY: US Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS) PID#: AA0302
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete foundation
The bench mark is a disk set in the top of a 3 m x 3 m (10 ft x 10 ft) concrete
base for city water line, across from the Silverado Restaurant, 10.00 m (32.8
ft) north of the center line of the highway, 3.0 m (9.8 ft) east of an extended
centerline of 15th St., 0.21 m (0.7 ft) west of the NW corner of the concrete
base, and about level with the highway.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 2 of 7
Station ID: 8723970 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: VACA KEY, FLORIDA BAY
FLORIDA
NOAA Chart: 11449 Latitude: 24ø 42.7' N
USGS Quad: MARATHON Longitude: 81ø 6.3' W
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: NO 2 1975
DESIGNATION: 872 3970 TIDAL 2
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 695
AGENCY: National Ocean Survey (NOS) PID#: AA0897
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete walkway
The bench mark is a disk set flush in the concrete walkway leading to the
restrooms and pool cabanas at Faro Blanco Resort, 0.2 km (0.1 mi) north of U.S.
Highway 1, 20.42 m ( 67.0 ft) SW of the SW corner of a boat basin, 7 m (24 ft)
west of the centerline of the paved driveway into the boat basin, 7 m (22 ft) SW
of Kelseys Restaurant entrance door, 5.85 m (19.2 ft) NW of a lamp post, 4.11 m
(13.5 ft) west of the curb of a driveway, 1.68 m (5.5 ft) south of the south
wall of Kelseys Restaurant, and 0.24 m (0.8 ft) north of the north edge of the
restroom-pool building.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 3970 A 1978
DESIGNATION: 872 3970 A TIDAL
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 698
AGENCY: National Ocean Survey (NOS) PID#: AA0895
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Walkway
The bench mark is a disk set flush in the walkway around the Faro Blanco Resort
Check-In Office, 56.39 m (185.0 ft) east of bench mark 3970 B 1978. 40.75 m
(133.7 ft) north of the centerline of U.S. Highway 1, 5.79 m (19.0 ft) west of
the centerline of the driveway, and 0.52 m (1.7 ft) NE of the NE corner of the
Office. NOTE: this mark is under the building overhang and needs a short rod for
leveling.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 3 of 7
Station ID: 8723970 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: VACA KEY, FLORIDA BAY
FLORIDA
NOAA Chart: 11449 Latitude: 24ø 42.7' N
USGS Quad: MARATHON Longitude: 81ø 6.3' W
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 3970 B 1978
DESIGNATION: 872 3970 B TIDAL
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 699
AGENCY: National Ocean Survey (NOS) PID#: AA0894
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Walkway
The bench mark is a disk set flush in the walkway around the Faro Blanco Grill,
56.39 m (185.0 ft) west of bench mark 3970 A 1978. 35.24 m (115.6 ft) north of
the centerline of U.S. Highway 1, 3.23 m (10.6 ft) SSW of the SW corner of the
walkway, and 0.3 m (1 ft) SW of the SW corner of the Grill.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 3970 K 1988
DESIGNATION: 872 3970 K TIDAL
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 702
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) PID#: AA1708
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete flagpole base
The bench mark is a disk set in the SE corner of the black concrete base of the
flagpole at the U.S. Coast Guard Station Marathon, 32.95 m (108.1 ft) SW of
bench mark 3970 L 1988, 21.18 m (69.5 ft) ESE of the NE corner of the main
building, and 9.97 m (32.7 ft) west of the centerline of the Coast Guard Station
road.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 4 of 7
Station ID: 8723970 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: VACA KEY, FLORIDA BAY
FLORIDA
NOAA Chart: 11449 Latitude: 24ø 42.7' N
USGS Quad: MARATHON Longitude: 81ø 6.3' W
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 3970 L 1988
DESIGNATION: 872 3970 L TIDAL
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 703
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) PID#: AA1707
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Rock outcrop
The bench mark is a disk set flush in a rock outcrop at the Coast Guard
Station, 32.95 m (108.1 ft) NE of bench mark 3970 K 1988, 18.41 m (60.4 ft) NNW
of the SW corner of the tennis court, 11.83 m (38.8 ft) SSW of the NW corner of
the tennis court, and 4.42 m (14.5 ft) east of the centerline of the Coast Guard
Station road, and at ground level.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 3970 M 1988
DESIGNATION: 872 3970 M TIDAL
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 704
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) PID#: AA1706
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Rock outcrop
The bench mark is a disk set flush under the grass in a rock outcrop at the
Coast Guard Station, 24.29 m (79.7 ft) north of the SE corner of the tennis
court, 23.47 m ( 77.0 ft) ENE of bench mark 3970 L 1988, 19.35 m (63.5 ft) south
of the SE corner of the most southerly house, 5.58 m (18.3 ft) SSE of the NE
corner of the tennis court, and 3.41 m (11.2 ft) west of a chain link fence
along the east property line.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 5 of 7
Station ID: 8723970 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: VACA KEY, FLORIDA BAY
FLORIDA
NOAA Chart: 11449 Latitude: 24ø 42.7' N
USGS Quad: MARATHON Longitude: 81ø 6.3' W
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 3970 J
DESIGNATION: 872 3970 J TIDAL
MONUMENTATION: Survey disk VM#: 705
AGENCY: US Coast Guard (USCG) PID#: AA1705
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Pipe filled with concrete
The bench mark is a disk set in a concrete pipe near the NW corner of the Faro
Blanco Resort property, 55.47 m (182.0 ft) SW of the centerline of the south end
of the pier leading to the Faro Blanco Lighthouse, 2.53 m (8.3 ft) SE of the NW
corner of the sea wall at the NW corner of the Faro Blanco property, 1.07 m (3.5
ft) east of a 1.83 m (6.0 ft) high chainlink fence between the Faro Blanco and
Coast Guard properties, 0.64 m (2.1 ft) north of a parking lot curb and 0.09 m
(0.3 ft) above the ground. NOTE: This mark was designated NO STAMPING 1 by the
National Ocean Service.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 3970 N 1999
DESIGNATION: 872 3970 N
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 15849
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) PID:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Bulkhead with deep piles
The bench mark is a disk set flush in the concrete bulkhead in the SW area of
the U.S. Coast Guard Station, 32.00 m (105.0 ft) NE of the SW corner of the USCG
rental units 3 and 4, 17.45 m (57.2 ft) SE of the SE face of the round waste
treatment tank, 0.35 m (1.2 ft) west of the SE face of the bulkhead, and 0.30 m
(1.0 ft) east of the west edge of the bulkhead.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 6 of 7
Station ID: 8723970 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: VACA KEY, FLORIDA BAY
FLORIDA
NOAA Chart: 11449 Latitude: 24ø 42.7' N
USGS Quad: MARATHON Longitude: 81ø 6.3' W
T I D A L D A T U M S
Tidal datums at VACA KEY, FLORIDA BAY based on:
LENGTH OF SERIES: 16 Years
TIME PERIOD: 1/1983-12/1987 ; 1/1989-12/1991 ; 1/1994-12/2001
TIDAL EPOCH: 1983-2001
CONTROL TIDE STATION: 8724580 KEY WEST
Elevations of tidal datums referred to Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), in METERS:
HIGHEST OBSERVED WATER LEVEL (10/07/1974) = 0.731
MEAN HIGHER HIGH WATER (MHHW) = 0.297
MEAN HIGH WATER (MHW) = 0.265
NORTH AMERICAN VERTICAL DATUM-1988 (NAVD) = 0.407
MEAN TIDE LEVEL (MTL) = 0.156
MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL) = 0.156
MEAN LOW WATER (MLW) = 0.047
MEAN LOWER LOW WATER (MLLW) = 0.000
LOWEST OBSERVED WATER LEVEL (02/04/1971) = -0.321
Bench Mark Elevation Information In METERS above:
Stamping or Designation MLLW MHW
NO 1 1975 1.298 1.033
R 273 1966 1.591 1.326
NO 2 1975 1.071 0.806
3970 A 1978 1.626 1.361
3970 B 1978 1.516 1.251
3970 K 1988 1.215 0.950
3970 L 1988 1.467 1.202
3970 M 1988 1.499 1.234
3970 J 1.231 0.966
3970 N 1999 0.944 0.679
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 7 of 7
Station ID: 8723970 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: VACA KEY, FLORIDA BAY
FLORIDA
NOAA Chart: 11449 Latitude: 24ø 42.7' N
USGS Quad: MARATHON Longitude: 81ø 6.3' W
D E F I N I T I O N S
Mean Sea Level (MSL) is a tidal datum determined over a 19-year National Tidal
Datum Epoch. It pertains to local mean sea level and should not be confused
with the fixed datums of North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88).
NGVD 29 is a fixed datum adopted as a national standard geodetic reference for
heights but is now considered superseded. NGVD 29 is sometimes referred to as
Sea Level Datum of 1929 or as Mean Sea Level on some early issues of Geological
Survey Topographic Quads. NGVD 29 was originally derived from a general
adjustment of the first-order leveling networks of the U.S. and Canada after
holding mean sea level observed at 26 long term tide stations as fixed.
Numerous local and wide-spread adjustments have been made since establishment in
1929. Bench mark elevations relative to NGVD 29 are available from the National
Geodetic Survey (NGS) data base via the World Wide Web at
National Geodetic Survey.
NAVD 88 is a fixed datum derived from a simultaneous, least squares, minimum
constraint adjustment of Canadian/Mexican/United States leveling observations.
Local mean sea level observed at Father Point/Rimouski, Canada was held fixed as
the single initial constraint. NAVD 88 replaces NGVD 29 as the national
standard geodetic reference for heights. Bench mark elevations relative to
NAVD 88 are available from NGS through the World Wide Web at
National Geodetic Survey.
NGVD 29 and NAVD 88 are fixed geodetic datums whose elevation relationships to
local MSL and other tidal datums may not be consistent from one location to
another.
The Vertical Mark Number (VM#) and PID# shown on the bench mark sheet are unique
identifiers for bench marks in the tidal and geodetic databases, respectively.
Each bench mark in either database has a single, unique VM# and/or PID# assigned.
Where both VM# and PID# are indicated, both tidal and geodetic elevations are
available for the bench mark listed.
The NAVD 88 elevation is shown on the Elevations of Tidal Datums Table Referred
to MLLW only when two or more of the bench marks listed have NAVD 88 elevations.
The NAVD 88 elevation relationship shown in the table is derived from an average
of several bench mark elevations relative to tide station datum. As a result of
this averaging, NAVD 88 bench mark elevations computed indirectly from the tidal
datums elevation table may differ slightly from NAVD 88 elevations listed for
each bench mark in the NGS database.