Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants, Inc. conducted a Phase I Cultural Resources Survey at Whitewater Creek Park in Macon County, Georgia. Whitewater Creek Park is seeking to create walking trails and canoe launches within the park. The proposed action at Whitewater Creek Park is to be funded using grant money, therefore the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Division requested a cultural resources survey before moving forward. Though Whitewater Creek Park consists of 482 acres, the Area of Potential Effect (APE) is limited to approximately 40 acres in the northern half of the park. Figure 1 shows the location of the park on a topographic map, while Figure 2, provided by Macon County Parks and Recreation, shows where some current amenities are located and where the proposed trails and canoe launches will be located.
This cultural resources survey was conducted in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations concerning the management of historic properties (i.e., archaeological sites, buildings, structures, objects, or districts listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places [NRHP]) that may be affected by ground disturbing activities associated with the proposed walking trails and canoe launch. Compliance is administered through the regulatory programs of the US Army Corps of Engineers (33 CFR Part 325) and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. These laws and regulations include: Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1948 (33 USC 1344), as amended; Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) of 1979 (93 Stat. 721, 16 U.S.C. 470aa-11) and the regulations there under (7932 CFR 229); the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 USC 470), as amended; and 36 CFR Part 8oo.
This study was conducted on behalf of Macon County to identify archaeological sites where the proposed walking trails and canoe launches are to be located; to identify historic structures within the view shed of the trails; and to evaluate the eligibility of identified cultural resources for inclusion on the NRHP. A records review was conducted prior to fieldwork in order to identify previously recorded cultural resources within or near the park.
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