Cultural Resource Assessment and Mitigation of 22 Acres Proposed For Expansion of the R.L. Sutton Water Treatment Plant, Cobb County, Georgia

TRC Garrow Associates, Inc. (TRC), conducted a series of cultural resource studies of a 22-acre tract slated for impact by the expansion of the R. L. Sutton Water Treatment Plant, located in Cobb County, Georgia. The studies included archaeological survey and testing, architectural survey, and a suggested mitigative program for one archaeological site (9C0533) and one historic structure (HS-4) that were recommended eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The results of the survey and testing studies were presented in an earlier TRC cultural resources report (Espenshade et al. 1998) and are included in this report as well. The archaeological survey used screened shovel tests at 30m intervals that identified one site, 9C0533, a series of Civil War trenches. The archaeological testing included controlled metal detector survey, detailed site mapping, photographic recording of the trench remnants, and excavation of 12 m2 in the trench remnants. Testing demonstrated the presence of intact remnants of trenches and a knoll top fort. The site was recommended eligible for the NRHP, and a mitigative program was recommended. This program was approved by the Georgia Historic Preservation Division (HPD) and carried out by TRC. The results of the data recovery are included in this report. Vehicular and pedestrian coverage of the project's Area of Potential Effects (APE) was undertaken to locate historic architectural resources. The architectural APE was defined as the area in which the proposed project would physically or visually affect any historic resources. The initial architectural survey identified nine historic resources in the project's APE. One additional resource, HS-10, was identified and surveyed after the initial survey report had been submitted, bringing the total number of resources to 10. One of the 10 resources, a side-gabled bungalow dwelling (HS-4), was recommended eligible for the NRHP; the other nine were recommended ineligible for the NRHP. As presented in the previously submitted report and in accordance with the criteria of effect and adverse effect in 36 CFR 800.9, it appeared that the proposed project would create an adverse visual effect on HS-4. Thus, a mitigative strategy was recommended that called for the retention and/ or planting of a buffer of vegetative screening along the southwestern boundary of the project area at Elizabeth Lane. The recommendations of the initial survey and the mitigation plan were accepted by the HPD. The findings of the original report, along with the additional discussion of HS-10, are included in this report. This technical report of investigations includes the results of all required cultural resource studies and mitigates the adverse effects on significant archaeological resources at the site. Clearance to construct with respect to archaeological resources is therefore recommended, pending acceptance of this report by the reviewing agencies and inclusion of the archaeological mitigation program in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among the agencies and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Clearance to construct with respect to architectural resources is also dependent on the acceptance of this document and preparation and acceptance of the MOA.