Preliminary Assessment of the Archeological and Endangered Species Potential of a 3225 Acre Tract Near Fort Benning, Georgia

Based largely on existing data bases concerning archeological sites and endangered species in the general vicinity of the project area, but also relying on three days of cursory field inspection, we have formulated an assessment of the potential for significant archeological sites and endangered species occurring in a 3225 ac tract located immediately south of Fort Benning, in Chattahoochee County. In general terms, endangered species (mainly red-Cockaded woodpeckers) appear to be rare to absent on the tract and should present little problem for development and use of the tract. The tract appears to be "average" to "slightly above average" in terms of estimated number and significance of archeological sites, with most significant archeological sites likely to occur on elevated landforms near the major creeks, mainly in the southeast portion of the tract. In regard to endangered species, only a cursory survey was conducted and only red Cockaded woodpeckers and gopher tortoises were actually surveyed. The focus of the survey was constructing a vegetation (habitat) map of the tract that could be used to predict red cockaded woodpecker foraging habitat (>50% pines 30 years old) and nesting habitat (pines >60 years old). Both red-Cockaded woodpecker colonies and gopher tortoises are known to exist in the Fort Benning area, but evidence of these species was not observed in the survey tract. The tract contains virtually no suitable foraging habitat for the red-Cockaded woodpecker and no suitable nesting habitat. The tract has been extensively tree farmed, leaving no stands of mature pines. Archeology appears to be a larger factor in this tract. Topography and the availability of water suggest that prehistoric sites on this tract would occur at a density comparable to Fort Benning as a whole, which is about 2.1 sites per 100 ac. Though only two previously recorded sites are located on this tract, we project that about 75 to 80 sites exist on the tract but have not yet been discovered. A small portion of these, probably 10 to 20 %, are likely to be considered potentially significant. The significant sites are most likely to occur on terraces and ridge crests closest to Hichitee Creek and the other major creeks that feed into it. Acquisition of the 3225 ac tract will require an initial description of the project prepared by the lead federal agency, which we presume will be the U.S. Corps of Engineers, Savannah District. An intensive archeological survey and a comprehensive endangered species survey will almost certainly be required. These surveys need to be coordinated with review agencies in advance. Both surveys would be relatively routine, and in the case of endangered species would not be very involved. It is impossible to predict the costs of mitigation programs that may be required as a result of these surveys, but since red-Cockaded woodpeckers are almost certainly absent, and since archeological sites do not occur in extraordinary numbers, costs may be minimal.