WSP10769

• File Number: 8220.105
• Description: Colorado River-Water Projects-Navajo
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 7/1/2001
• Author: BOR
• Title: Revised Draft Environmental Assessment for the Jicarilla Apache Nation Water Subcontract-aka USBR/PNM Water Contract Renewal and Extension
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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6.9

Cultural Resources

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Cultural resources are physical or other expressions of human activity or occupation. Such resources
(hereby referred to as historic properties) include culturally significant landscapes. prehistoric and historic
archeological sites and isolated artifacts or features, historic structures. human burials, sacred sites and
ia"duiiiunai l:uHurai prupc:nit:s (TCFs). reFs are sires or areas of imponam cuiturai vaiue (0 existing
communities. Historic Properties that are eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP) are protected under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended in 1992
(NHPA), and may also be protected under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of
1990 (NAGPRA), and Executive Order 13007, Protection of Native American Sacred Sites, and other
state, agency, or tribal laws and policies.

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6,9.1 Existing Environment

The SJGS lies in the San Juan Basin, an area well known for its archeology and contemporary/historical
Native American culture. Nearby cultural/archeological features include Mesa Verde National Park,
Aztec Ruins National Monument, Salmon Ruins, and the Navajo and Ute Mountain Indian Reservations.

Known cultural traditions around the SJGS include the Archaic (3,000 to 500 B.c.), the Anasazi (A.D. 1-
1300), the NavajolUte Settlement Period (A.D. 1450-1870) and Euroamerican settlement (A.D. 1870-
Present).

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A number of contemporary Native American tribes have ancestral and traditional ties to the San Juan
Basin. Archeological data provide some infomlation about prehistoric and historic aboriginal use of the
region; however, each tribe has its own account of the tribe's traditional use of the area. There is a high
likelihood of encountering TCPs and human remains during project planning. archeological excavation,
or construction activities.

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6.9.2 Significance Criteria

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For cultural resources, a significant environmental effect occurs when the proposed project will disrupt or
adversely affect a prehistoric or historic archeological site or a property of historic interest or cultural
significance to a community or ethnic or social group. Adverse impacts to cultural resources could
include destruction, disturbance. inundation or vandalism to significant resources. These impacts were
considered significant if they would occur to cultural resource sites that are eligible or listed for inclusion
on the NRHP. It should be noted that while significant impacts to cultural resources may be "resolved"
through treatment measures of encountered resources such as data recovery in compliance with applicable
regulations and guidelines, in some cases. impacts would remain significant or are unavoidable. Other
adverse impacts which may be significant include disturbance to graves and cultural items protected
under NAGPRA, and destruction of, or preventing access to, sacred sites protected under Executive Order
13007.

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6.9.3 Impacts of the Proposed Action

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Because of the nature of the proposed action. there would be no significant impacts to cultural resources.
The Jicarilla Apache Nation Water Subcontract is simply a change in water supplier (from USBR to
Jicarilla Apache Nation), and a continuation of ongoing activities. The implementation of the proposed
- action will be confined to the existing infrastructure described elsewhere in this document.

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