2002-06-05_PERMIT FILE - M2002004 (3)

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Proposed Limestone Quarry Access Road and Overview Cultural Resources Inventory 1.0 Introduction URS Corporation (URS) was retained to conduct an intensive pedestrian survey of a proposed access road and an overview survey and predictive model for a proposed limestone quarry area. Work consisted of a file search, archival research, an intensive survey of approximately 42 acres for the proposed access road, and a reconnaissance survey of the proposed quarry area. Henceforth, the proposed quarry area will be referred to as the proposed project area while the proposed 1.75-mile access road will be referred to as the intensive survey area (Figure 1). There is also an area to the west of the project area that is part of a larger proposed lease area. The project area lies in portions of Sections 6, 7 and 18, T22S, R64W, and Sections 1, 12 and 13, T22S, R65W, and covers approximately 1,200 acres of rangeland. The intensive survey was confined to Sections 1, 12, and 13, T22S, R65W, and covers 42 acres. The land on which the proposed actions will occur is owned by the State of Colorado and is leased from the state. As such, these actions are subject to the provisions of the Colorado Historical, Prehistorical and Archaeological Resources Act of 1973 (CRS 24-80-401 to 410) and implementing regulations. In essence, this act grants title to historical, prehistorical, and archaeological resources on state lands to the State of Colorado. It has been interpreted by the Attorney General's Office to require consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) only in instances when properties located on state lands and listed on the National or State registers will be affected (K. Hardy, personal communication 2001). However, the SHPO can be asked to comment on project effects at anytime regardless of land ownership status and it is advisable to do so in cases that involve priorities that have been determined eligible by the SHPO or are considered potentially eligible by consultants. The work was performed under State of Colorado Archaeological Permit number 2001-41. Robert J. Mutaw, Ph.D. served as principal investigator and author of this report. JoAnne Braun assisted Dr. Mutaw with the archival.research and site form preparation and contributed to the report. Dr. Mutaw conducted fieldwork for the project on June 25, 2001. 2.0 Environmental Context ' This section provides the general environmental context for the proposed project area. This is useful for understanding the prehistoric and historic resource potential of the area and the conditions that influence archaeological site development and preservation. It contains ' descriptions of the project area environment. in terms of its physiography, geology, soils, climate, vegetation, and wildlife. ' Physiography The proposed project area is located in the Colorado Piedmont section of the Great Plains ' Physiographic Province (Fenneman 1931; Painter et al. 1999). Most of the project area lies in an intermediate zone between the Front Range Uplift to the west and the Great Plains to the east. The area is characterized by both flat, rolling plains and moderate to deeply cut drainages and canyons marking the major' watercourses in the region. The St. Charles River, one of the main tributaries in the Arkansas River drainage basin, crosses the project area. Elevation in the project area ranges from 4,840 ft above mean sea level (amsl) at the north end of the project area to nearly 5,000 ft amsl at the south end. ? U?.S ,