Archeological Survey of a Proposed Water Line Across the Chattahoochee River at Belton Bridge Road, Hall County, Georgia

On April 24, 2002 Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc., conducted a Phase I archeological survey of a proposed route for a water line along the east side of Belton Bridge Road in northeastern Hall County. The project corridor was known to cross previously recorded archeological site 9HL20, which is located on federally owned lands administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District. Project designers requested that we survey the proposed line and a surrounding 138-x-274-m area. The goal of the survey was to locate and evaluate any other archeological sites within the area of potential effect for the proposed project, and assess the nature and extent of site 9HL20 so that potential effects to it and any other resources could be evaluated in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The vast majority of the greater project area has been heavily disturbed by river flooding and road construction. Our survey confirmed that portions of eligible site 9HL20 do exist in the tract, both east and west of Belton Bridge Road. No other sites were discovered. In the entire vicinity of 9HL20 the proposed 16-inch diameter water line will be placed immediately adjacent to the edge of pavement, within the shoulder of the road. Our shovel testing of this portion of the road shoulder showed that the roadway was bulldozed down to a depth of at least 0.95 meter and then replaced with red clay and rock fill. Thus, no intact site deposits remain within the existing roadway, which is where the water line will be placed. The water line veers away from the road way as it approaches the river, but this area is completely churned by alluvial flood chutes and deposits and contains no archeological deposits. In conclusion, our survey of the proposed water line and surrounding tract shows that construction of the line as currently planned will have no adverse effect to 9HL20 or any other site.