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<br />001761 <br /> <br />38 <br /> <br />Many of the archaeological resources along th{: river corridor are contained in the <br />sediment deposits that form alluvial terraces. Since th,e completion of Glen Canyon Dam, the <br />sediment resource has declined. The alluvial terraces where many archaeological sites are <br />located continue to erode. A system-wide method for regenerating the river terraces and <br />redistributing sediment has been identified as an essential component to maintaining future <br />integrity for cultural resources (Balsom and Larralde, 1996). <br />Previous Cultural Resource Investigations: During the past five years, GCMRC <br />implemented and saw to completion the following projects: a synthesis of data collected by the <br />NPS and Tribal groups (Neal et aI., 2000), mainstem fllow and deposition modeling (Wiele, <br />2003), and development of a geomorphic model for pr,edicting the susceptibility of <br />archaeological sites to erosion (Thompson and Potochnik, 2000), and preparation of a cultural <br />resource research design for the river corridor (Fairley, 2004).. The data synthesis report (Neal <br />et aI., 2000) identified crucial data gaps in previously wllected data. Wiele's (2003) stage flow <br />and deposition modeling project provided information on estimated sediment deposition at <br />selected archaeological resource locations, given partkular water releases and modeled sediment <br />loads. The geomorphic model by Thompson and Potochnik (2000) attempted to distinguish <br />erosional processes that are related to dam operations versus naturally-occurring processes. Also <br />in FY2000, a cultural resource protocol evaluation panel (PEP) was organized. The panel's <br />report (Doe lie, 2000) provided GCMRC and USBR with a series of recommendations for <br />program coordination and future activities. The work activities undertaken since 2001 have been <br />driven by the PEP recommendations. <br />New initiatives implemented by GCRMC in thc~ last few years, following <br />recommendations of the 2000 cultural PEP, include a project to evaluate the effectiveness of <br />check dams as a mitigation strategy to slow erosion at archaeological sites, and a comprehensive <br />research design for the cultural resources in the river corridor. <br />The check dam study was initiated in FYO 1, and a final report was completed in <br />November, 2003. The results of this project (Pederson et aI., 2003) suggest that check dams are <br />effective if they are situated appropriately, use appropriate materials (brush appears to be more <br />effective and less damaging than rock checks), and are continually maintained. Another related <br />goal of this research initiative was to test the accuracy of photog ram me try as a tool for detecting <br />geomorphic changes at archaeological sites. Pederson et al. (2003) concluded that errors <br /> <br />GCMRC FY2006 Annual Work Plan (Draft February 15,2005) <br />