Cultural Resources Survey for the Proposed West Dallas Sewer Line, Paulding County

Between June and July 2021, CROY Engineering, LLC (CROY Engineering) contracted with Brockington and Associates, Inc. (Brockington) to conduct a Phase I cultural resources survey to document resources for the proposed West Dallas Sewer Line in Paulding County, Georgia. The approximate 92,700 linear feet of archaeological survey area consisted of 646 shovel tests placed at 30-meter (m) intervals. A pedestrian surface survey was completed at 15-m intervals. The architectural survey area (ASA) consisted of the planned corridor plus an additional 500-foot viewshed. As a result, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GEPD), Municipal Permitting Unit, requested the survey in accordance with the Guidance for Project Requirements Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF Guidance 2007). The survey was conducted in compliance with both state and federal guidelines, including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) ofl966 (54 USC 30010, as amended through 2016), the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's (ACHP) implementing regulations (36 CPR Part 800), the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation (U.S. Department of the Interior [USDI] 1983), and state archaeological survey and reporting guidelines established by the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists ([GCPA] 2019) and Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) Historic Preservation Division (HPD) (2017), as well as other pertinent state and federal guidelines. The primary purpose of the investigations was to identify cultural resources that may be affected by the proposed development of the West Dallas Sewer Line and to recommend management options. Proposed development includes the installation and replacement of 92,700 linear feet of sewer line, and the development of a regional lift station. The archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE) encompasses the construction limits for the proposed project and, in consideration of the surrounding topography and existing vegetation, the ASA includes land parcels directly adjacent to the tract. A literature review, as well as archaeological and architectural field investigations to determine if the proposed project will impact cultural resources that are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), was completed by Brockington in June 2021. Archaeological fieldwork consisted of pedestrian surface inspection and shovel testing along transects at 30-m intervals throughout the project tract. We identified one new archaeological site: Site 9PA602, a rock pile located 5.0 m north of a drainage leading into Pumpkinvine Creek. The rock pile is made of granite stones ranging in size, with the largest visible stone having a diameter of 1.0 foot. The rock pile is round, 2.0 m in diameter, and roughly 30 centimeters high. Shovel tests were placed at the base of the rock pile and at 10-m intervals in all cardinal directions until two consecutive negative shovel tests were reached. No cultural materials were recovered. At present, the site's eligibility for inclusion on the NRHP remains unknown. We recommend the intact rock pile features be avoided by proposed construction. If avoidance is not feasible, Phase II archaeological testing is recommended to determine final NRHP eligibility. The architectural field survey for the proposed project was conducted during the week of July 12, 2021. For the fieldwork, we reviewed a study area of approximately 500 feet surrounding the project tract, accounting for all physical and visual elements (i.e., viewshed) of the proposed project. We adjusted the viewshed in consideration of vegetation, topography, and modern development. The proposed project will consist of an underground water line with a cleared easement. Therefore, we paid close attention to parcels/properties directly impacted by the proposed project; outside of the direct footprint, there is little potential for visual effects. During the architectural survey, 38 resources were identified. These 38 resources consist of four neighborhoods, one railroad, and 33 individual buildings. After reviewing these resources, we recommend that two of these resources should be considered eligible for listing on the National Register under Criteria A and C (Resource WD-63 and Resource WD-71). Resource WD-63 is a ca. 1900 residence. Resource WD-71 is a ca. 1900 railroad. There are five (5) resources that we could not properly evaluate due to lack of access. However, all of these resources are located away from the proposed water line and are buffered by sufficient vegetation. We recommend that the project will not have an adverse visual effect on these resources. In summary, Brockington has identified cultural resources within the proposed West Dallas Sewer Line project area. We recommended avoidance of Site 9PA602 and, if avoidance is not feasible, Phase II archaeological testing is recommended to determine final NRHP eligibility. In addition, the proposed project area is obscured from Resource WD-7l's viewshed due to densely timbered and modern development properties located between them. Finally, the proposed project, an underground water line with a narrow cleared easement, does not bisect any of these neighborhoods. All neighborhoods within the APE have already lost integrity of setting due to heavy residential and commercial development within the immediate viewshed of the resource. Any cleared easement areas will be minimal and will not create an adverse visual effect.