The Township of Greater Madawaska was formed in 2001 through the amalgamation of Bagot and Blythfield, Brougham, and Griffith/Matawatchan. It spans a vast area of rugged terrain, including parts of the Madawaska River valley and the northern tip of the Canadian Shield. Historically, this region was opened through the construction of the Madawaska and Peterson Roads, key colonization routes in the mid-1800s.

Logging was the dominant force behind early economic activity, with large sawmills once operating at Calabogie and Griffith. Hydroelectric development along the Madawaska—particularly at Barrett Chute and Mountain Chute—brought additional surveying complexity, as water levels were raised and lands expropriated. Several villages in the township were surveyed specifically to support dam construction crews and associated infrastructure.

Surveyors in Greater Madawaska face a rich but challenging environment. Plans range from original Crown surveys to hydroelectric expropriation maps and mining patents. Shoreline boundaries are frequently meandered and impacted by hydro regulation. Lot lines may reflect old timber limits or government surveyor deviations to navigate cliffs, lakes, or wetlands. The legacy of colonization roads—many now recreational trails—continues to shape legal access and boundary interpretation.