Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed Sierra Lake Development Tract, Forsyth County, Georgia

Between 21 November and 2 December 2005, Brockington and Associates, Inc., conducted a Phase I cultural resources survey of the proposed Sierra Lake Development Tract, Forsyth County, Georgia. The survey was conducted under a subcontract with Acer Environmental, Inc., to determine the project's effect on significant cultural resources and in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended, and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1948 (33 USC 1344), as amended.     Prior to field survey, background research was conducted to determine if any previously recorded cultural resources are located within and near the project tract and if any properties listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) will be impacted by the proposed residential development project. No previously recorded cultural resource is located on the project tract, but we identified one previously recorded archaeological site (9F0215) and 12 previously recorded architectural resources (Resource numbers 30962, 31039, 31040, 31040, 31041, 31042, 31043, 31044, 31071, 31072, 31073, 31092, and 31129) within a 1.6-km (one-mile) radius of the tract boundary.     Site 9F0215 is a prehistoric artifact scatter located approximately 1.3 km (0.8 mile) southwest of the project tract. No cultural affiliation or date of record information is provided on the site form. This site was recorded by an amateur archaeologist and no NRHP recommendation is provided on the site form. Due to its distance from the project tract, it is unlikely that 9F0215 will be affected by the proposed development. Three (Resource numbers 31042,31043, and 31044) of the 12 previously recorded architectural resources are located within the viewshed of the proposed development. Resource 31042, a circa 1900 Queen Anne style house, is recommended eligible for the NRHP and Resource 31044, a circa 1875 hall-parlor house is recommended not eligible for the NRHP due to numerous alterations. Resource 31043, identified as a circa 1855 central hall house, appears to be no longer standing. The remaining nine previously recorded architectural resources are not within the project viewshed and will not be affected by the proposed development.     Archaeological field survey consisted of the visual inspection of all exposed ground surfaces and the excavation of screened shovel tests at regular intervals to examine subsurface deposits. Shovel tests were excavated at 30-meter (98-ft) intervals on transects spaced 30 meters (98ft) apart across the entire project tract. Shovel tests were not excavated in areas of steep slope or standing water, or where ground disturbance was visible on the surface. Shovel test depths varied from 10 em to approximately 50 em below ground surface. Soils were moderately shallow and ranged from 0-30 em of brown loamy sand to 0-20 em of brown rocky silty loam overlying orange-brown silty clay, with red clay subsoil. Red clay subsoil was present on the surface in many areas within the project tract. During archaeological field survey we identified one isolated find (Isolate 1) consisting of a single yellow ware ceramic sherd. No surface or sub-surface archaeological features were identified with this artifact. Isolated finds are generally not evaluated for the NRHP. We recorded no archaeological sites during field survey. Archaeological resources clearance is recommended.     During architectural field survey, we identified one previously unrecorded architectural resource (FO-SL-1) within the project tract. This resource is a circa 1905 central hall house located at 3437 State Route 369 (Matt Highway). Resource FO-SL-1 has numerous additions dating to the 1940s and 1970s and also has three circa 1940 out-buildings consisting of two sheds and a barn. Due to numerous alterations and additions, the resource has lost architectural integrity and is therefore recommended not eligible for the NRHP.     In addition to architectural field survey, we conducted an assessment of effects (AOE) for Resource 31042. It appears that the proposed residential development at Sierra Lake will not have an adverse effect on the previously recorded architectural resource 31042. Part of the viewshed for this resource has already been compromised by recent development and there will be an earthen berm and wooden fence to act as a buffer between the Sierra Lake subdivision development and Resource 31042.