November 18, 2008

Placer County Water AgencyPlacer County Water AgencyMiddle Fork American River ProjectMiddle Fork American River Project

(FERC No. 2079)(FERC No. 2079)

CulturalCulturalTechnical Working Group MeetingTechnical Working Group Meeting

November 18, 2008November 18, 2008

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2008 Cultural Resource 2008 Cultural Resource Inventory Study ResultsInventory Study Results

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Inventory Work Completed in 2008Inventory Work Completed in 2008

Conducted additional records searches to identify previous studies and/or previously recorded resources within one-mile radius of four Project snow courses

The snow courses are located in the upper Watershed, east of Hell Hole and French Meadows reservoirs

Relocated and examined two previously recorded resources to verify location and condition of resources

Revisited two previously unknown resources that were found in 2007

Conducted field surveys to identify new resources

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2008 Inventory Effort/Results2008 Inventory Effort/Results Additional record searches related to Project snow

courses

Identified 15 previous studies within 1 mile of each of the snow course locations

Identified 26 previously recorded cultural resources within 1 mile of the snow course locations

Resources include Basque tree carving sites, prehistoric bedrock milling sites, lithic scatters, prehistoric campsites, and 1 petroglyph site

None of these sites is located within 200 feet of a snow course location

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2008 Inventory Effort/Results2008 Inventory Effort/Results Relocated and examined two previously recorded

resources to verify location and condition of resource

Relocated one resource that was originally recorded as a bedrock milling station and flake scatter (FS-05-03-55-201)

Relocated one resource that was originally recorded as a single bedrock mortar (FS-05-17-53-468)

Resource was thought to be a natural feature in 2007

Surveys in 2008 indicate the feature is a shallow bedrock mortar placed in a natural depression on the rock

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2008 Inventory Effort/Results2008 Inventory Effort/Results Revisited two previously unknown resources that were

found in 2007

Revisited a mining settlement that was originally recorded in 2007. Updated record to reflect additional features found during 2008 surveys (FS-05-17-53-372)

Revisited a resource that was found in 2007 and thought to be a ditch segment. Determined to be a recent feature based on 2008 survey (PL-02)

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2008 Inventory Effort/Results2008 Inventory Effort/Results Conducted surveys to identify

new resources within 200 feet of the following features or areas:

Project reservoirs

Existing Project facilities

Potential Project betterments

Project snow courses

2008 surveys augment survey work completed in 2006 and 2007

14 new cultural resources were identified during 2008 surveys

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New Resources Identified in 2008New Resources Identified in 2008

1 Native American rock art site

5 Isolated artifacts

8 Historic era resources (3 archaeological sites, 5 objects/structures)

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Update on Implementation of Update on Implementation of Cultural ResourcesCultural ResourcesEligibility StudiesEligibility Studies

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Eligibility StudiesEligibility Studies

Purpose

Evaluate Resources to Determine if they are Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)

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Determining Historical Significance

Criteria used to evaluate historical significance are found in36 CFR 60.4

Criteria takes into account:

Age (50 years or older, or exceptional resources under 50 years of age)

Integrity Significance Criteria

A. Associated with broad patterns in American History B. Associated with important persons C. Embodies distinctive characteristics of type, period, method of

construction, high artistic value, represents work of master D. Potential to yield information important in prehistory or history

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Eligibility StudiesEligibility Studies Distributed Draft Cultural Resources Eligibility Evaluation

Plan on June 18, 2008 for review and comment (one letter received from Shingle Springs Rancheria)

Distributed Final Cultural Resources Eligibility Evaluation Plan on August 28, 2008

Obtained ARPA permits from the Forest Service to conduct shovel probes and test excavation units (TEUs) at specific sites

Notified Tribes of field schedule by letter dated September 18, 2008

Field studies conducted in 2008 (October – November) Additional research regarding eligibility will continue through

early 2009 Draft Eligibility Report will be distributed for review and

comment in March 2009

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Eligibility StudiesEligibility Studies Eligibility Evaluation Plan identified four types of resources

Category 1 – Resources that will not be evaluated because they are not affected by Project operation and maintenance activities

Nine resources (two historic era roads, remains of a bridge, three historic era sites, one Native American site, one multi-component site, and one mining ditch)

Category 2 – Resources that will be evaluated because they could potentially be affected by Project operation and maintenance activities

Nine resources (four mining ditches, one dismissed ditch, one stream diversion berm, three Native American sites)

Category 3 – Evaluation approach to be determined pending further information

Four resources (one historic era site, two Native American Sites, one mixed component site)

Category 4 – Resources that have previously been evaluated for the NRHP

Four resources (four Native American sites)

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Four resources were identified as needing further information to determine whether evaluation is necessary (Category 3)

Two of these sites were determined not to be affected by Project operation and maintenance activities (FS-05-03-53-04, FS-05-17-54-468). Therefore, evaluation is not necessary.

The other two sites were determined to potentially be affected by Project operation and maintenance activities (FS-05-03-53-375, FS-05-17-54-214). Therefore, they were evaluated for NRHP eligibility.

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Evaluation effort includes:

Consultation with Tribes, other stakeholders, and resource agencies

Fieldwork to identify contents and boundaries of sites

Laboratory work to augment and verify field information

Acquisition and review of historical documents

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Eligibility StudiesEligibility Studies Consultation Approach:

Consult with Tribal representatives to evaluate archaeological resources

Determine those historic attributes that may be associated with each site recognized by the Tribe, recognizing that consultation may involve a broader geographical area than the defined boundaries of a given site

Develop understanding of the historical associations of the cultural resources

Notify Tribes if human remains, funerary objects, or sacred objects are discovered

Information developed through Tribal consultation will be documented and will remain confidential as designated by Tribal representatives

Consult with resource agencies regarding the evaluation of historic structures

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Fieldwork Approach

Shovel probes

Test excavation units where necessary (3 sites)

Field analysis of recovered materials

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Eligibility StudiesEligibility Studies Laboratory/Office Approach

Examination of artifacts

Obsidian hydration and radiocarbon dating

Sourcing studies

Consideration of results of excavation and lab-generated data to evaluate eligibility of sites

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Eligibility StudiesEligibility Studies Research Approach

Historic Structures Gather and review historic data, including local histories,

mining histories, historic maps and photographs, engineering documents, and materials found in archives and libraries of local and state historical societies and academic libraries to evaluate whether features identified during field surveys are “known” resources (i.e., named ditches, roads, and berms)

Evaluate the historical significance of each named ditch, road, and berm

Hydroelectric facilities to be evaluated by an architectural historian

Prehistoric Resources Consult with Tribes

Acquire additional published and unpublished information from the Tribes and resource agencies to understand age, function, and integrity of sites

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Resources identified during 2008 inventory surveys

These resources will be addressed in a draft Supplemental Evaluation Plan that will be distributed to the Cultural TWG for review and comment.

Of the 14 new sites identified in 2008, three will require eligibility evaluation

PL-17 – Old road PL-20 – Mining ditch PL-22 - Rock art site

Evaluation effort will include:

Background research Consultation with Tribes, other stakeholders, and resource

agencies

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Next StepsNext Steps

Draft 2008 Cultural Resources Inventory Report

PCWA distributes Draft 2008 Cultural Resources Inventory Report to Cultural TWG for review and comment in Nov/Dec 2008

Cultural TWG provides comments to PCWA

PCWA addresses comments and distributes final report to TWG

Supplemental Cultural Resources Eligibility Evaluation Plan PCWA distributes Draft Cultural Resources Eligibility

Evaluation Plan to Cultural TWG for review and comment in Dec 2008

Cultural TWG provides comments to PCWA

PCWA addresses comments and distributes final supplemental plan to TWG

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Next Steps (continued)Next Steps (continued)

Cultural Resources Eligibility Study

PCWA consults with Tribes, other stakeholders, and resource agencies

PCWA completes studies and prepares report

PCWA distributes Draft Cultural Resources Eligibility Study Report for review and comment (end of March 2009)

PCWA addresses comments and distributes final report to TWG

Eligibility results are provided to State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)

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Relicensing Schedule Relicensing Schedule OverviewOverview

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Relicensing Process ScheduleRelicensing Process Schedule2009 - 20112009 - 2011

2009Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q3 Q4 Q1

20112010Q1 Q2

Distribution of Technical Study Reports

Impact Analysis/ Identify Preliminary PM&E Measures

Collaborate on New License Conditions

Prepare Draft Application

Draft Final

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Collaboration TopicsCollaboration Topics

Q1 Q22009 2010

Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

• Instream Flow Article• Monitoring Plans• Entrainment

Sediment Management Plan

Historic Properties Management Plan

Transportation System Management Plan

• Fire Plan• Public Safety Plan• Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan

Recreation Plan

Visual Resources Plan

• Special-status Species License Article• Bald Eagle Management Plan• Vegetation and Integrated Pest Management Plan

LicenseApplication

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Development of Historic Properties Development of Historic Properties Management PlanManagement Plan

Purpose

Describes a program to preserve and manage Historic properties and other important cultural resources potentially affected by Project operation and maintenance activities

Content

Overview of cultural and environmental setting

Definition of historic contexts

Historic properties and relationship to historic contexts

Potential project effects

Management and preservation of Historic properties

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Other Studies that may Other Studies that may Pertain to Tribal InterestPertain to Tribal Interest

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Other Resource StudiesOther Resource Studies

Aquatic Resources Studies (fish, mollusks)

Terrestrial Resources Studies (raptors, deer, sensitive plants, noxious weeds)

Recreation Resources Studies (facilities, use at developed facilities, dispersed use)

Land Management Studies (transportation, fire)

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Upcoming MeetingsUpcoming Meetings

Schedule meeting for mid to late March

Sign up for other TWG meeting notifications

Documents

November 18, 2008