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The site was originally field evaluated as needs data. While the site may be associated with the <br />settlement of the area. it has no specific association with an }' historic events (Criterion A); it is <br />not associated with any persons who made any significant contributions to history (Criterion <br />BY does not embod-v the distinctive characteristics of a type.. period. or method of construction <br />(Criterion C); and does not appear to have the potential to yield any additional information <br />regarding the history or prehistory of the area. Given the lack of integrity and lack of <br />association with an event, person. method of design/construction. or information potential, it is <br />field evaluated as not eligible for listing on the NRHP. No further work is recommended. <br />Site 5DT1795.2 is a segment of the Pitkin Mesa Domestic Pipeline. It is located at <br />elevations ranging between 7920 and $080 feet. The aqueduct crosses several unnamed <br />tributaries of Stevens Gulch. Vegetation consists of dense oakbrush. serviceberry. mountain <br />mahogany, skunk cabbage, and dense mountain grasses. Soils are a tan sandy. aeolian loess. <br />Soil depth is unknown. but presumed to be more than a meter deep. Ground visibility was <br />approximately 5% due to the density of grasses. <br />The site was originally recorded in 2010 by Curtis Martin and Michael Brown with <br />Grand River Institute (Conner 2010). The following is excerpted from their report: <br />The Pitkin Mesa Domestic Pipeline (aqueduct) originates at an unnamed <br />sprint; at the head of Sink Creek. elevation 9645 feet. located in Gunnison <br />National Forest. It crosses the Overland Ditch about 0.5 mile after having <br />dropped 200 feet in elevation. traveling south- southwest. Following Stevens <br />Gulch. it terminates on Pitkin Mesa at the Fire Mountain Canal, elevation 6220 <br />feet. after having traveled a total of nearly 9 miles. <br />The actual construction date of the aqueduct is not known at this time. <br />It. however. predates construction of the lire Mountain Diversion Dam and <br />Canal which occurred primarily from 1949 -1951 (personal communication, Dan <br />Crabtree) and is not related to the Paonia Project or the Fire Mountain Canal <br />(personal communication, Steve Puck. Colorado State 'Water Commissioner). <br />On March 16. 1941. the initial transfer of water rights to the pipeline occurred. <br />via court action (ibid.). <br />The Pitkin Mesa Domestic Pipeline was. minimally. an ambitious <br />endeavor. The water source must have been realized as being perennially viable <br />in order to expend the time and resources necessary to make the effort <br />worthwhile. The conception of. and the engineering for a transport system. the <br />labor and material costs to trench across 9.0 miles of undeveloped country <br />demonstrates the urgent need for water during the long -terns planning of the <br />Paonia Project and Fire Mountain Ditch. <br />The segment being recorded by this project takes of from the northern point of <br />14 <br />