Laserfiche WebLink
decreed volume of 456 Acft and Nofstger Zeigler Reservoir 344 Acft. Both are owned by the Earle <br />Brothers and were appropriated in May of 1908 and adjudicated in July of 1939. <br />STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES/RESEARCH DESIGN <br />The goal of this project was to conduct sufficient baseline cultural resource inventory to <br />support the mine permit application for the Sage Creek Mine. The proposed mine is underground <br />with a relatively small surface footprint. The main potential effects to cultural resources will arise <br />from subsidence of longwall panels deep underground. Based on a Class I overview of the permit <br />area (Metcalf and McKibbin 2008), a sampling strategy was proposed and implemented. This <br />included inventory of all terrains where previous research shows that archaeological sites are likely <br />to occur and inventory of all terrain types where the effect of subsidence is likely to alter the terrain <br />features in a manner that could affect the integrity of archaeological sites. <br />Previous studies show that site density in much of the project area is low overall, but several <br />surveys, including that of Barclay and Slaughter (1999) demonstrate that higher prehistoric site <br />densities can be expected on terrace/slope settings near drainages. Looking at the distribution of <br />prehistoric sites in the project area (Metcalf and McKibbin 2008), it is apparent that nearly all occur <br />on gentle slopes and terraces along drainage courses. Sites are typically located no more than 150 <br />meters away from intermittent and wet drainages, and usually are within 75 meters. The exception <br />in the study area, 5RT385, is a non-eligible lithic scatter located on an upland ridge. Based on <br />results of surveys elsewhere in the general area, hilltops, ridgelines, and sandstone escarpments <br />would be the areas more distant from water where sites could be expected to occur. The survey <br />strategy targeted essentially all of these terrains in the permit area. <br />The study was designed to comply with the mandated policies implementing the National <br />Historic Preservation Act (NHPA [Public Law 89-665]), as amended. The project was conducted <br />to locate any cultural resources that might be adversely affected by mine related activities. Any <br />discovered cultural resources are evaluated for eligibility to the NRHP. To be eligible for the <br />NRHP, the resources must retain essential aspects of integrity and meet one or more of the Criteria <br />for Eligibility (36CFR§60.4). For archaeological resources, eligibility is typically recommended <br />under Criterion d, on the basis of the information potential of surface artifacts and features, and <br />intact subsurface cultural deposits. Historical resources may be evaluated under any of the four <br />criteria on the basis of information potential or significant historic associations. <br />Surface Effects of Subsidence <br />The effect of the subsidence at the surface is to lower ground elevations by between zero and <br />six feet. Because of the depth of the coal seam, the surface itself does not shear or crack; in effect, <br />it will drape over the post-subsidence irregularities at the mine level. The draping is buffered by the <br />strata between the mine level and the surface. The main surface change will be very slight <br />alterations in the ground slope extending over broad areas; the integrity of the surface stratigraphy <br />and any archaeological materials that may be on or in the surface sediments should remain <br />unchanged. However, the subsidence, when it happens, can cause differential settling that can <br />disturb such things as standing structures, unstable slopes, and cliffs in the immediate vicinity. A <br />change in surface topography may also affect natural drainage patterns. Creeks that cross the <br />12