2016-08-08_PERMIT FILE - C1981019 (27)

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Creek. Water from Taylor Creek would have to be raised to the crest of the interfluvial ridge before it could enter the ditch. Modern aerial photos and the inspection of the ditch conducted for this project shows the ditch terminates just beyond the north end of the current inventory area. The ditch cannot be an irrigation ditch because it does not access any source of water. It must be a diversion or drainage ditch directing water west and north from the eastern end toward Wilson Creek. No historic documentation found during this project links the ditch in the current inventory area to agricultural activities conducted along Wilson Creek or Taylor Creek in the 19`h or 201h centuries. The ditch cannot be documented to be more than 50 years old; therefore, was not recorded as a site for this project In the general region (summarize): Historic resources in the general region are primarily ranch/homesteads and historic roads. The Axial townsite is located in Section 26, approximately 1.5 miles southeast of the current inventory area. The Meeker to Craig road, which originally connected the White River Agency with the Union Pacific Railroad in Rawlins, Wyoming, has been recorded approximately two miles east of the inventory area. Colorado Highway 13 has also been recorded. It is located approximately 0.5 miles east of the inventory area. A small number of prehistoric open camps have been recorded in the surrounding_ area. 26. Expected Results: _Based on the file search, local topography, and soils, the inventory area is located in a relatively low site density area. Previously conducted projects are evenly distributed across the sections. Based on the number and distribution of projects in this section, the previously conducted work presents a fair to good representative sample of the sections. Based on the number of previously conducted projects and the distribution of projects and sites across the sections, it is predicted that the inventory area is located in a low site density area. This is based on the distribution of projects and sites being sufficient to make the sample of previous work in these sections representative of the entire sections including the current inventory area. VI. STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES 27. _The objectives of a Class III inventory are to provide a complete record of all cultural properties identifiable from previous inventory that occur within the study area, and to evaluate and determine the relationship of the cultural resources to proposed disturbance areas in the terminal segment of the proposed haul road. VII. FIELD METHODS 28. Definitions: Site _: A site is defined by the Colorado BLM as an assemblage of three or more culturally or temporally associated artifacts, or one or more features, which represent a definable loci of human activity which occurred at least 50 years ago, including but not limited to fire hearths, refuse middens, structures, stone cairns and alignments, prehistoric and historic artifacts. IF An isolate is defined as one or two artifacts which are more than 50 years old, including flakes, chipped stone tools, historic cans and bottles (including all fragments), and other material remains which cannot be culturally or temporally associated with any definable loci of human activity. 29. Describe Survey Method: _The Class III inventory was conducted with 15 m spacing of a 40 acre parcel encompassing the proposed terminal segment of the haul road. Where present, soil profiles exposed in cut banks, road cuts, animal burrows, or animal trails were examined. Ant hills were also examined for the presence of micro -artifacts including pressure flakes or small beads. There were no major environmental constraints. Vegetation cover is moderate with a ground visibility of approximately 50% to 75%. Climatic conditions were fair with sunshine, temperatures in the 40s to low 50s and light variable winds. No snow cover was present in the inventory area.