PROJ00221

• Contract/PO #: FS0017X
• Contractor Name: Ouray, City of
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 0
• County: Ouray
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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causing concern that the pool might be damaged. It was reported that the diversion structure on
Skyrocket Creek was damaged and was in need of repair (Montrose Daily Press, July 26, 1929). In
order to prevent future flood damage, a stream bank structure constructed of rock and logs was in-
stalled across the original stream course. In August 1951, a flood down the creek topped the diver-
sion structure and resulted in the highway being covered with debris and the fish ponds being filled
with sand and gravel. Another flood event of similar magnitude occurred in July 1981 (Mussetter
Engineering, Inc. 1997).

4.0 PREVIOUS WORK AND EXPECTED RESULTS

No previous historical or archaeological work had been conducted in the immediate vicinity
of the project area. The diversion was known to be of historic age from preliminary research done for
the replacement of the structure.

5.0 PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of the documentation project was to gather descriptive data for the
diversion structure and assess its significance. This was done so that the site could be adequately
considered under the various applicable cultural resource laws and to facilitate the formation of ap-
propriate mitigative strategies if the site were considered significant. The historic preservation laws
mandating this cultural resource study specifically identify eligibility to the National Register of His-
toric Places as the key factor in determining preservation needs. The criteria for assessing site signifi-
cance, as published in the U.S. Government Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR 60) read as follows:

National Register criteria for evaluation. The quality of significance in American history, archi-
tecture, archeology, engineering, and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and
objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and asso-
ciation and

(a) that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad
patterns of our history; or

(b) that are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or

(c) that embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction,
or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that rep-
resent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual
distinction; or

(d) that have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or his-
tory.

Identification and evaluation of cultural resources in the project area permit formulation of
management recommendations. Isolated finds do not meet the criteria for inclusion on the National
Register and are not recommended for further archaeological treatment. Management options for sig-
nificant sites include site avoidance and data recovery.

6.0 METHODS

Prior to entering the field, a prefield literature search was conducted by Bob Hahne of the
Army Corps of Engineers at the Colorado Historical Society, Office of Archaeology and Historic Pres-
ervation. The diversion structure was then recorded on a Colorado cultural resource inventory
forms, photographed, and plotted on a USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle map. No artifacts were collected.

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