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I~ <br />U <br />Cultural resources were sought as surface exposures and were characterized as sites <br />or isolated fmds. Sites were defined by the presence ofsix or more artifacts and/or <br />significant feature(s) indicative of patterned human activity. Isolated finds were defined by <br />the presence ofa single artifact or several artifacts, which apparently represent a single event <br />(e.g., a single core reduction), and aze surficial in nature. Cultural resources encountered <br />were to be recorded to standards set by the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation <br />of the Colorado Historical Society. <br />Study Findings <br />This section provides a discussion of the results of the inventory, site evaluations and <br />management recommendations. As expected, cultural resources were encountered and newly <br />recorded during the survey: three farmsteads and one canal (SDT1274 to SDT1277). The <br />field conditions were poor. Dense vegetation made the survey difficult and the heavy <br />disturbance by historic farming of the bench lands has destroyed any sign of earlier <br />occupations. This portion of [he report describes the findings and presents a discussion of <br />site significance evaluation. <br />Site Significance <br />The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) directs federal agencies to <br />ensure that federally-initiated or authorized actions do not inadvertently disturb or destroy <br />significant cultural resource values. Significance is a quality of cultural resource properties <br />that qualifies them for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The <br />statements of significance included in this report aze field assessments to support <br />recommendations to the OSM and State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). The final <br />determination ofsite significance is made by the OSM in consultation with the SHPO and the <br />Keeper of the Register. <br />The Code of Federal Regulations was used as a guide for the in-field site evaluations. <br />Titles 36 CFR 50, 36 CFR 800, and 36 CFR 64 are concerned with the concepts of <br />significance and (possible) historic value of cultural resources. Titles 36 CFR 65 and 36 CFR <br />66 provide standards for the conduct of significant and scientific data recovery activities. <br />Finally, Title 36 CFR 60.6 establishes the measure of significance that is critical to the <br />determination of a site's NRHP eligibility, which is used to assess a site's research potential: <br />The quality of significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, and <br />culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects of State and <br />local importance that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, <br />workmanship, feeling, and association, and a) that are associated with events <br />• that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history; or b) <br />that are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or c) that <br />4 <br />