Tugaloo Corridor Hiking Trail, Stephens County, Georgia

With this letter we wish to report on the results of our Phase I archeological survey of the area of potential effect (APE) for a proposed section of paved hiking trail and related amenities located near the Tugaloo River in eastern Stephens County. This survey was recommended by the Georgia Historic Preservation Division in an April 18, 2008-letter reviewing a grant application for the project (letter from Elizabeth Shirk to Georgia Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites coordinator Bryan Alexander). In a follow-up communication between Ms. Shirk and Mr. Alexander (documented in a July 21, 2008 email from Bryan Alexander to Joe Furguson), it was clarified that only the areas subject to earth disturbing activity needed survey and that the results could be presented in a letter report. The area of potential effect consists of four related and nearly adjacent project components that will require some degree of ground disturbance to construct (Figure 1). Since the vast majority of the proposed hiking trail will consist only of a hand-cleared path requiring earth disturbance, most of the trail did not require survey. The project components that did require survey are: 1) paved section of hiking trail, about 600 ft long and about 6 ft wide 2) parking lot about 150 by 250 ft 3) pavilion to be built on exiting concrete slab 4) restroom structure between parking lot and pavilion