Phase I Intensive Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed Chestatee River Canoe Launch, Lumpkin County, Georgia

Between 14 and 15 February 2005, Brockington and Associates, Inc. performed an intensive cultural resources survey (Phase I) of the proposed Chestatee River Canoe Launch in Lumpkin County, Georgia. The survey was conducted under contract with the U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers, Mobile District. Field survey involved examination of the landscape, vegetation, and ground surface, as well as excavation of screened shovel tests at 30-meter (100-ft) intervals within the 4.05 hectare (10.0 acre) project tract. Survey tasks were completed in compliance with criteria defined under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended), by personnel qualified under the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards (36CFR Part 800: Protection of Historic Properties). This study follows U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulations (USACE 1990) developed to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act (16 USC 470, as amended). The goal of this cultural resources survey was to determine the project's Area of Potential Effect (APE) on significant cultural resources. Background research was conducted at the Georgia State Archaeological Site Files (University of Georgia) in Athens to determine if any previously recorded archaeological sites were present within the project's APE. No previously recorded archaeological sites were located within the project tract. However, two (2) previously recorded archaeological sites (9LU7 and 9LU24) are within a 1.6 km (1 mi) radius. No archaeological sites were identified during this Phase I investigation. The architectural resources survey consisted of background research and pedestrian reconnaissance of the project tract and its surrounding viewshed to identify all historic architectural resources exceeding 50 years in age that might be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The background research was conducted at the Historic Preservation Division (HPD) at the Department of Natural Resources in Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Archives and History (GDAH) in Atlanta, and the Lumpkin County Library in Dahlonega. There are no extant buildings on the project tract. No previously recorded architectural resource was found within the project tract or the project viewshed. Development of the project tract will not affect any historic properties. Cultural resources clearance is recommended.