2014-10-10_PERMIT FILE - C1996083 (3)

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CULTURAL RESOURCES DISCUSSION Despite the limitations of the steep slopes and heavy vegetation cover, as expected from the files search, the survey yielded several prehistoric and historic cultural resources. Predictive models for archaeological site locations in the region of western Colorado have examined the roles of numerous variables in structuring the geographical locations of prehistoric archaeological sites. In general, however, they have pointed to strong correlations between site locations and/or site types and vegetational communities, elevation, distance to water, and topographic setting. In all of the predictive models, the high elevations that include spruce -fir -aspen woodlands with dense forbs and grasses have the lowest concentrations of cultural resources. In addition, most of the previously recorded prehistoric sites seemed to occur in the ecotone between the park and woodland communities rather than in either one or the other. The results of this inventory seem to confirm the previous finding concerning prehistoric resources. Most of the recorded prehistoric sites and isolate finds in the area have been found in close or relatively close proximity to water resources. Similarly, the historic forest harvesting/processing and ranching sites that were revisited and newly recorded by this project occur within the forests, near water sources, and along wooded edges. The historic records indicate a permanent EuroAmerican presence in the region that began as early as the 1890's. Interest in the potential agricultural lands of western Colorado (namely the Uncompahgre, Gunnison, Colorado, Dolores, San Miguel, White, and La Plata River valleys) had been growing for some time prior to the Utes' banishment, and by the spring of 1881 frontier towns closest to the Ute lands were "crowded with people, anxious to enter the Reservation and take possession of the most desirable locations (Haskell 1886:2)." Only days after the last of the Utes had been expelled, settlers began rushing onto the reservation lands. Settlement activity spread quickly -- during the autumn months of 1881 land claims were staked, townsites were chosen, and railroad routes were surveyed (Haskell 1886, Borland 1952, Rait 1932). However, because the former reservation lands were not Officially declared public lands until August 1882, the first year of settlement activity was marked by a degree of uncertainty regarding the legality of land claims. When finally announced, the 1882 declaration did not allow homestead entries on the newly opened lands, but only preemptions, or cash entries, at the rate of $1.25 per acre for agricultural land, $5.00 per acre for mineral land (Borland 1952:75). The turn of the century brought changes in the patenting policy, allowing Homestead and Desert Land Entries as well. The reevaluated site and newly recorded historic sites generally reflect a focus on cattle ranching and hunting in the study area. Early land acquisition in the region appears to have been by Homestead, Cash Entry or Stock Raising Patents. Many of the early ones were relinquished, and these lands were later consolidated into larger ranches. The other historic site in the study area is the aqueduct constructed during the late 1940's which provides potable water to the Paonia area.