Intensive Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Palo Pinto County Rock Creek Pump Station Pipeline

The Palo Pinto County Municipal Water District No. 1 contracted HDR Engineering, Inc. (HDR) to conduct an intensive cultural resources survey of the approximately four miles of 20-inch pipeline installation in the City of Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County, Texas. The Area of Potential Effects (APE) is approximately four miles in length within a 10-foot Right-of-Way (ROW). Approximately three miles of the APE, west of the eastern terminus of Harvey Road, falls within the previously disturbed MH 379 road ROW. The remainder of the one mile of APE to the east lies within undisturbed ROW. The eastern portion of the APE lies within Parker County, Texas. The archaeological investigation conducted by HDR consisted of intensive survey of the APE to determine the presence/absence of archaeological resources by employing pedestrian survey, systematic shovel testing, judgmental shovel testing, backhoe trenching, and photo documentation. Fieldwork took place from November 13 to November 14, 2014. HDR project personnel consisted of Principal Investigator Ben Fullerton, Crew Chief Megan Koszarek, and Field Technician Ben Morton. A total of 32 person-hours were invested in the field project. The survey resulted in a pedestrian walkover and photo documentation of the entire project area as well as the excavation of 28 negative shovel tests and three backhoe trenches. No archaeological materials were identified during the investigation. The project area west of the eastern terminus of Harvey Road is severely disturbed by previous activities related to roadway construction and burial of various types of underground cables and drainage features. In accordance with 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 800 and 13 Texas Administrative Code [TAC] 26, no further archaeological investigations are recommended. As a result of the present survey, it is recommended that the proposed installation of approximately four miles of 20-inch pipeline will not have any effect on cultural resources in the project APE, and construction may proceed. In the event that any archaeological deposits are encountered during construction, work should cease, and the Texas Historical Commission (THC) should be notified. All records and materials generated by this project will be permanently curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas