Phase I Cultural Resources Survey and Viewshed Analysis for the Goat Rock-North Columbus Improvement Project, Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia

Under contract with Georgia Power Company (GPC), TRC conducted a Phase I Cultural Resources Investigation and Viewshed Analysis/ Assessment of Effects for the Proposed Goat Rock-North Columbus Project (the Project) in Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia. A small portion of the project extends on to the Alabama bank of the Chattahoochee River. After initial consultation, the Alabama SHPO stated no cultural resources surveys were required for the Alabama section of this project. GPC is proposing the Project to improve customer service and expedite maintenance and restoration of power during outages by removing and replacing several structures associated with the First Avenue-Goat Rock 115kV transmission

line. The replacement structures will allow GPC to install a line that can fully span the river without being anchored to Goat Rock island, preventing future challenges related to accessing the island during inclement weather to restore power to customers. The Project will also remove two distribution line structures from Goat Rock and move the line to the east side of the river.

This Phase I cultural resources survey was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (as amended) and its implementing regulations at 36 CFR § 800. The purpose of the survey was to document archaeological sites and architectural resources aged 50 years or older located within the Project's Area of Potential Effects (APE) and to evaluate potential effects on resources that are listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The proposed Project would include ground disturbance and is located within the boundaries of two overlapping and related historic districts, including the Columbus Historic Riverfront Industrial District, which is a National Historic Landmark (NHL), and the Bibb City National Register Historic District.

An archaeological survey was conducted to ensure that no significant cultural sites would be impacted by tree clearing associated with project or by the removal of the structures on Goat Rock. No archaeological sites were identified as a result of the survey.

To assess potential visual effects the proposed Project may have on these historic resources, TRC completed a viewshed analysis and assessment of visual effects according to the Section l06 criteria of adverse effect at 36 CFR § 800.5.

To complete the architectural survey and viewshed analysis, TRC conducted background literature research, viewshed mapping, a field survey, and an assessment of effects. The survey focused on the Project's relationship to the previously-identified Columbus Historic Riverfront Industrial District NHL and the Bibb City Historic District located in the APE.