This paper presents a concept for the identification of stable reference points used in horizontal control networks, which is based on the lengths of apparent displacement vectors and their mean errors. These vectors and their mean errors are obtained during the process of calculating displacements with free adjustment conditions. It will be shown that the influence of the apparent displacement vectors has a significant effect on the calculation of results. The identification of stable points, using the proposed method, is an integral part of the adjustment process and allows for the interrogation the influence of individual point inclusion or deletion from the reference database, on the values of displacements of controlled points. A detailed process of stable reference points identification is presented using the example of a linear-angular network for a barrage.