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<br />Introduction <br /> <br />A cultural resources inventory of three proposed wells within the Gun- <br />nison National Forest was conducted on 6 August 1984 for West Elk Coal Com- <br />pany, Inc. at the request of the U.S.D.A. Forest Service The survey was <br />effected for compliance with Executive Order 11593, the National Environ- <br />mental Policy Act of 1969, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of <br />1979, and the Archaeological and Historic Data Preservation Act of 1974. <br />Fieldwork was performed by Carl E. Conner, Project Archaeologist, of Grand <br />River Institute under Special Use Permit #CR-84-01. <br />Location of Study Area <br />The areas surveyed for cultural resources are located in T.135.., R.90W., <br />as follows (see Figure 1): <br />Well #1 - Section 33, SE'(.SW'GNWY.NW'/. (2.5 acres) <br />Well #2 - Section 34, SE'/~NW'I~SWYiNW/a (2.5 acres) <br />Well #3 -Section 34, SE'I~SEYSWY.NW'1• (2.5 acres) <br />Access to the study area is gained by travelling east from Paonia along <br />the Minnesota Reservoir/Hammond Trail road approximately 5 miles. Well #1 <br />is located on the south side of the road approximately 2000' east of the <br />reservoir; well #2 lies approximately 1.1 miles east of #1, between the <br />creek and the road; well #3 lies approximately 1000' beyond well #2 at <br />the road intersection. <br />Environmental Overview <br />The study area lies at the periphery of the Nest Elk Mountains within <br />the drainage of Minnesota Creek, a permanent stream. Elevation ranges from <br />7480' to 7680'. <br />Upper Cretaceous age Mesaverde sandstones, shales, and coal deposits <br />underlie the area. Soils formed from these sediments are tan and sandy <br />with rock debris. Soil depth is estimated to be from 2-50cm depending on <br />slope and vegetation. Common plant species include oakbrush, serviceberry, <br />3 <br />