Archeological Survey of Improvements to Twelve Boat Ramps, Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area, Decatur County, Georgia

From October 20 through October 30, 2008 Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. (SAS) conducted a Phase I archeological survey of twelve boat ramps and associated parking areas situated on ten natural ponds in Decatur County, Georgia. Virtually all of these were centered on existing, unimproved ramps. Plans consisted of minimally improving the ramps with a combination of simply mowing and adding gravel to light grading, shaping and adding gravel to ramps and parking areas. The area of potential effect was defined as an area 100 ft, (30 m) wide extending a maximum of 61 m (200 ft) from the edge of each pond. One ramp at Silver Lake North was larger. Region 5 Supervisor Rob Weller met SAS field archeologist Ron Schoettmer at the project area and showed him each ramp and proposed parking area, discussing how each would likely be improved. To ensure we investigated each boat ramp location thoroughly, we typically investigated a larger, encompassing area. The areas surveyed were not of uniform shape or size, but all survey areas were mapped. Among the twelve boat ramp locations, we recorded three archeological sites and one archeological occurrence (Table 1, Figure 1). All cultural resources that we recorded are prehistoric. One site contained prehistoric ceramics that likely date to the Swift Creek phase of the Middle-Late Woodland period. The other two archeological sites and the single occurrence contained only nondiagnostic, prehistoric lithic artifacts. All sites appear to be relatively short-term camps of limited activity. None of the three archeological sites are likely to produce significant information beyond the survey level of investigation due to their ephemeral nature. Therefore, we conclude that the proposed undertaking will not affect significant archeological resources and should be granted clearance to proceed.