Archival Research and Remote Sensing Survey Submarine Cable Corridor, Ossabaw Sound Chatham County, Georgia

Durocher Dock & Dredge, Inc. of Cheboygan, Michigan is working under contract with Southern Company Energy Solutions, LLC to deploy a power and fiber optic cable to Ossabaw Island, Chatham County, Georgia. The proposed route will begin on Skidaway Island and pass through Hell Gate before terminating at the Wildlife Management Area Dock on Ossabaw Island. In order to comply with Georgia and Federal submerged cultural resource legislation and regulations, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources determined that a submerged cultural resource survey of the proposed route would be necessary. Tidewater Atlantic Research, Inc., of Washington, North Carolina [TAR] was retained by Durocher Dock & Dredge to conduct that survey and identify and assess the significance of any underwater cultural material located in the proposed project area. The research consisted of a background literature review and a remote sensing survey of the proposed cable route. Fieldwork activities associated with the project were conducted on 6 and 7 October 2001. Analysis of the remote sensing data identified 37 anomalies within the survey area. Only one of those targets contained signature characteristics indicative of significant submerged cultural resources. That anomaly, 0-02, lies along the eastern edge of the proposed route within Delegal Creek. It is recommended that the target be avoided, however, if avoidance is not a possibility then further investigation to identify and determine the significance of the anomaly is recommended. The remaining 36 anomalies contained signature characteristics indicative of small single ferrous objects such as cable, wire, pipe, crab traps, anchors or other modern debris and are not recommended for additional investigation.