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Cultural Sunrei :jor Five Core Ho[es,~or (he Wes( EIk Mirte Dn' Fork Exploration Area documented. Several of the aspens neaz the road in the survey block for core hole DDD have recently-carved initials in the bark. The scars still have a tan color. No cultural resources were documented by this survey. The Deep Creek Ditch (SGN2669) passed close to the survey blocks for CCC, FFF, and 00. No control features or distinctive elements of the ditch were noted. Southwest ofCCC, the water was apparently carried in a shallowly buried pipe visible as a leveled pathway along the slope. This ditch extends for about 3 miles from the upper Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek to Little Gunnison Creek. Seasonal flow from the tributaries of these creeks and stored water from small ponds is diverted as needed among the drainages. Water rights appropriations for diversion from Minnesota Creek date to 1898 and 1899, with an adjudications date of February 20, 1904. Although the ditch is not extensive or remarkable in its own right, these small diversion ditches connecting tributary drainages are important for the control and storage of water resources in the Gunnison River drainage. EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The cultural resource inventory azea does not contain any significant cultural resources that are likely to be affected by the proposed core holes or temporary access improvements. Cultural resource clearance is recommended for the proposed project. However, if human remains or unanticipated cultural materials are encountered during the drilling operations, drilling will be halted in the vicinity ofthe discovery and the USFS will be notified immediately. REFERENCES CITED Deceasar, M. 1982. Minnesota Creek and Dry Fork Minnesota Creek Grazing Stations. Prepared by US Forest Service, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest. Graham, C. 1997. Cultural Resource Inventory of 12 Drill Holes and Access Routes, Gunnison County, Colorado. Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Eagle, Colorado. Prepared for Mountain Coal Company, Wes[ Ells Mine, Somerset, Colorado. Husband, MB. 1984. Colorado Plateau Country Historic Context. Colomdo Historical Society, Denver. Reed, AD. and MD. Metcalf. 1999. Colorado Prehistory: A Context for the Northern Colorado River Basin. Colorado Council of Professional Archaeologists, Denver. 216 pages. Sanders, LK. 1989. Dry Fork Ponds and Trails. Prepared by US Forest Service, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest. Spath, C. 1995a. Mountain Coal Company's West EIk Mine 1995 Exploration Program, Five Exploratory Drill Hole Locations and Access. Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Eagle, Colorado. Prepared for Mountain Coal Company, West Ells Mine, Somerset, Colorado. Spath, C. 1995b. Mountain Coal Company's West Elk Mine 1996 Exploration Program, Five Exploratory Drill Holes and Alternate and 4.5 Miles ofProposed Temporary Access Corridors, Gunnison National Forest, Gunnison County, Colorado. Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Eagle, Colomdo. Prepared for Mountain Coal Company, West Elk Mine, Somerset, Colorado. • 210-Dry Fork Core Holes Rpt_(8.11.04)