2013-12-12_REVISION - C1982056 (11)

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Management Data Form Resource Number: 5RT3259.1 Temporary Resource Number: 19. Location /Access: From about 0.2 miles east of where County Road 33 crosses the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, take a two -track road north from CR 33 for a little less than one - quarter mile to the south edge of the railroad right -of -way. This is the south end of the recorded railroad segment. III. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT /SITE CONDITION 20. General Description (should include both on site as well as geographical setting with aspect, landforms, vegetation, soils, depositional environment, water, ground visibility): This newly recorded railroad segment is located in Twentymile Park in the Yampa River Valley about 12 miles southwest of Steamboat Springs. The segment is oriented generally northeast - southwest and is situated along a slight west- facing slope and a slight southeast - facing slope between Fish Creek to the west and Foidel Creek to the east. Aspect varies. Surface sediments consist of brown clay alluvium mixed with sand regolith. An outcrop of sandstone is located just southeast of the northern portion of the site. The site contains native vegetation, consisting of dense sagebrush, mixed grasses and forbs, and undisturbed deposition. Ground surface visibility ranges from 10 to 40 percent. The nearest water to the south end is Foidel Creek to the south, and the nearest water to the north end is an intermittent drainage, located about one - quarter mile to the northwest, that flows north to Fish Creek. Fish Creek is a north - flowing permanent tributary of Trout Creek, which empties into the Yampa River located about eight miles to the north. 21. Soil depth (cm) and description: No soil development was observed. Surface sediments consist of brown clay alluvium mixed with sand regolith. An outcrop of sandstone is located just southeast of the site. 22. Condition a. Architectural /Structural b. Archaeological /Paleontological ® Excellent ❑ Undisturbed ❑ Good ® Light disturbance ❑ Fair ❑ Moderate disturbance ❑ Deteriorated ❑ Heavy disturbance ❑ Ruin ❑ Total disturbance 23. Describe condition: The railroad segment is in very good condition. It currently exists as modern steel tracks and a rocky berm with culverts along the entire length. Steel footings and spikes and wooden ties are used along the segment. The railroad grade is regularly upgraded and maintained; however, many of the original materials remain. 24. Vandalism: ❑Yes ® No Describe: IV. NATIONAL /STATE REGISTER ELIGIBILITY ASSESSMENT 25. Context or Theme: Transportation— Railroads 26. Applicable National Register Criteria: ❑ A. Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad pattern of our history ❑ B. Associated with the lives of persons significant in our past ❑ C. Embodies 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 represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction ❑ D. Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in history or prehistory ® Does not meet any of the National Register criteria ❑ Qualifies under exceptions A through G. List exception(s): 27. Applicable State Register Criteria: ❑ A. Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to history ❑ B. Property is connected with persons significant in history ❑ C. Property has distinctive characteristics of a type, period, method of construction or artisan ❑ D. Property is of geographic importance ❑ E. Property contains the possibility of important discoveries related to prehistory or history ® Does not meet any of the State Register criteria 28. Area(s) of significance: Transportation, Economics 29. Period(s) of significance: 1962 -1963 30. Level of significance: ❑ National [:]State ❑ Local 31. Statement of significance: MAC recommends 5RT3259.1 as not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. This segment is known in the historical documentation as the "Energy Spur ". Tracks were laid for this spur in 1962, and it has served to transport coal to and from the mine since that time; it terminates at the Twentymile mine headquarters and load -out facility. It joins the main line at Milner, between Steamboat and Hayden. Although the segment is related to the larger Denver and Rio Grande Railroad which is NRHP eligible, it was not in operation during that railway's historic period of significance (early to mid- 1900s). Therefore, the (Page 2 of 10)