Intensive Archaeological resources Survey for the branch-Wadley #1 and #2 230 KV Transmission Line Corridor

A Phase I intensive archaeological resources survey was conducted for the Branch-Wadley #l and #2 230 kV Transmission Line Corridor in Putnam, Hancock, Baldwin, Washington, and Jefferson counties, Georgia. The project was carried out as part of the Programmatic Agreement (PA) in place between Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) and the Georgia State Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division (HPD). Though technically due diligence, all activities described herein have been carried out in accordance with the stipulations of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (per 36 CFR Part 800, as amended through 2004) and by personnel qualified under 36 CFR Part 61. This project is intended to identify and document archaeological resources within the property boundaries, and assess eligibility for inclusion of encountered archaeological resources on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) according to the criteria set forth by 36 CFR Part 63. It does not include an historic structures survey, as that is part of a separate undertaking and/or does not fall within the purview of the PA. The survey was conducted along a length of proposed corridor stretching approximately 92.2kilometers (krn) (57.3 miles [mi]) that extends from the Plant Branch generating station (Baldwin County)southeast to the Wadley Primary substation in Jefferson County. It crosses the Oconee River/Lake Sinclair into Hancock County as well as several minor creek systems. The survey corridor for these lines is variable; however, the entire project corridor lies within existing power line corridors. This corridor ranges from 53 m ( 175 feet in with two transmission lines to a maximum of 170 m(560 ft) with eight various transmission lines inside the corridor. This corridor was investigated through shovel testing survey at 30-m (100-ft) intervals. These were excavated on up to six survey transects also at 30-m(100-ft) intervals running to either side of the project center line. During the survey, Brockington and Associates identified 13 previously unknown archaeological sites(sites 9WG242-249; 9HK288-291; 9JF334) and 10 isolated artifact finds within the project corridor. Of these, only 9WG248 is a deeply buried (up to 80 cm below ground surface) prehistoric site surrounding Branch-Wadley #2, Structure #110. The site appears relatively intact and is considered potentially eligible for the NRHP; however, it is not believed that replacing the guy wire on Structure # 110 will create any additional impacts to the site. The remainder of these finds are small occurrences of prehistoric or historic material generally relegated to surface or shallow plowzone contexts, and are considered ineligible for the NRHP. During the Phase I survey, Brockington also located and assessed the current condition of sites 9HK92, 9PM977,9PM979, 9WG32, 9WG33 and 9WG35, previously registered archaeological resources identified within the survey corridor. Sites 9PM977, 9WG32, and 9WG33 are all considered to be NRHP-ineligible prehistoric artifact scatters that extend into the current survey corridor. Site 9PM979, a historic house site, as well as 9HK92and 9WG35, were all previously recommended as potentially NRHP-eligible sites. The house foundation associated with 9PM979 is outside of the GTC corridor, and only a low-density, disturbed scatter of historic materials associated with this site were identified within the survey corridor. The portion of the site within the GTC corridor is considered ineligible for the NRHP. Site 9HK92 is located on a peninsula (a former ridge nose) over Little Island Creek in Lake Sinclair. The utility lines crossing through much of the site were already extant upon its recordation in 1993 and have contributed some disturbance to the deposits, which extend up to 60 em below the ground surface. While this site is recommended eligible for the NRHP, the area surrounding the structures (Branch-Wadley #1,Structure #26 and Branch-Wadley #2, Structure #24)has previously been disturbed; the current undertaking should pose no new impacts to the site, other than already caused by the installation of the existing structures. Similarly, at 9WG35, a light density artifact scatter calculated around 15 artifacts per square meter across the survey corridor (63 artifacts from 59 shovel tests [ 4.17 sq m] sampled) was found primarily on the sides of two terraces bounding Steel Creek. Branch Wadley#1, Structure #174 and Branch-Wadley #2,Structure #172 are located within the site boundaries, however soils within 30-60 m of these structures was found previously disturbed; thus, no new impacts should be incurred by the proposed undertaking. Within these eligible archaeological sites, and throughout the corridor in general, there are adequate vehicle access roads. Maintenance vehicles accessing structures within the NRHP-eligible resources should be restricted to these paths when traveling through undisturbed portions of the archaeological site; however areas 30-60 m around the base of the structures have generally been previous impacted, and will incur no new impacts due to the proposed undertaking.