Cultural Resource Survey of a 143 Acres for the Little Patsiliga Creek Mitigation Bank in Taylor County, Georgia

TRC was contracted by Mitigation Solutions, LLC to conduct a cultural resource survey of a 143-acre tract proposed to be developed into the Little Patsiliga Creek Mitigation Bank in Taylor County, Georgia. Approximately 45 acres of the project area are occupied by a pond and were not subject to survey investigations. This project involved both an archaeological and historic structures survey of the project's Area of Potential Effects (APE). For the archaeological survey, the APE consisted of approximately 98 acres not currently inundated where ground-disturbing activities may take place. For historic structures, the APE, consisted of the entire 143-acre tract plus surrounding areas visually connected to it where the dam and pond removal and changes to vegetation along the stream margins might impact the viewshed of a historic resource. Lines of sight were terminated where vegetation or topography obscured views to the project area. The archaeological survey, which consisted of shovel testing and surface inspection of the approximately 98-acre portion of the tract, revealed 2 prehistoric sites (9TR138 and 9TR139) and 1 isolated find (IF-1). None of these are considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and no further archaeology work is recommended. Background research identified three architectural resources within the immediate vicinity of the project area. These resources, all located on Highway 208, were previously recorded in 1997 and consist of three ca. 1880s dwellings (TR-50, TR-51, TR-52), one of which includes several agricultural buildings (TR-51). According to the recorder, all three "appear to meet National Register criteria." These structures were revisited during the present survey and only TR-51 is within the visual APE. TRC concurs with the previous finding that TR-51 is eligible for the NRHP under Criteria A and C. Since the proposed dam removal and wetland restoration will partially restore the historic setting (changing only aspects of the current setting that are not original to the property's landscape), there will be no adverse effect to the resource. No further cultural resources investigations are recommended in advance of this project.