Heritage Resources Investigations for the Compartment 113 Second Stewardship Project, Oconee Ranger District, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Jasper County, Georgia

The Oconee Ranger District (Oconee RD) of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests is proposing to harvest timber in Jasper County, Georgia on 516 acres in Compartment 113 using a commercial timber contract. A majority of the area of the proposed timber harvest (436 acres) has previously been surveyed by two projects, with 16 sites being recorded. A number of these sites were monitored by Wettstaed, who recorded one new site and provided updates on several others. An intensive survey of the area of potential effect for this project that had not previously been surveyed covered a total of 80 acres, documenting four additional sites. Resurvey of 109 acres previously surveyed did not record any additional sites. Determinations of eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) have been conducted on all sites. Seven sites were determined eligible, while 13 were found to not be eligible for the NRHP. Three of the sites determined not eligible for the NRHP are cemeteries and will be protected in accordance with Georgia state law. Cemeteries and sites eligible for the NRHP will be protected from all ground disturbing activities during the undertaking by creating a 30 m (100 ft) buffer around each site and no ground disturbance will be allowed within these areas. The only exception to this is site 9JA315, which is crossed by a woods road that is necessary for removing timber during the proposed sale. This road is Forest Road 1011 and has been used for many years. As a result, use of this road during the timber sale will be allowed with the stipulation that no disturbance be permitted outside the existing road prism. If these protective measures are followed, it is recommended that the proposed undertaking be allowed to proceed as planned.