SH 71 at Pope Bend Road Intersection, Bastrop County, Texas

PROJECT TITLE: Intensive Archeological Survey of SH 71 at Pope Bend Road Intersection, Bastrop County, Texas. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proposed undertaking would consist of roadway improvements along SH 71 between Pope Bend Road and Still Forest Drive for a distance of approximately 1.75 miles. This area is comprised of properties owned by the State of Texas (existing right-of-way [ROW]), as well as properties that are privately owned (proposed new ROW). Blanton & Associates, Inc. conducted survey of portions of the project area of potential effects (APE) on behalf of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Austin District. PROJECT LOCATION: Bastrop County, Texas; Utley US Geological Survey 7.5” topographical quadrangle APE ACREAGE: Approximately 92.79 (81.7 acres existing ROW, 11.09 acres proposed ROW) APE ACRES SURVEYED: 6.84 (proposed ROW with right-of-entry [ROE]) DATE(S) OF WORK: March 15 and 16, 2018 PURPOSE OF WORK: The purpose of the archeological survey was to locate and evaluate archeological sites within the SH 71 project APE in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and associated federal regulations (36 CFR 800), as well as the Texas Antiquities Code (9 TNRC 191) and associated state regulations (13 TAC 26). TEXAS ANTIQUITIES PERMIT NUMBER: 8369 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Jon Dowling, MA, RPA TOTAL PERSON HOURS INVESTED: 16 (fieldwork) SITES RECORDED/REVISITED: None RESULTS/RECOMMENDATIONS: Due to upland settings, dense gravel deposits, as well as preexisting disturbance due to extensive bulldozing associated with the original highway construction, no survey or further work is recommended in the 81.7 acres of existing ROW. Since no archeological sites were identified, no additional archeological survey work is recommended in the 6.84 acres of proposed new ROW evaluated under this investigation. The intensive archeological survey focused on 6.84 acres of the total 11.09 acres of proposed ROW, where ROE was granted. A total of 28 shovel tests were excavated during the investigation. No archeological sites were identified within these portions of the APE. No further work is recommended at these locations. Approximately 4.25 remaining acres of the APE were inaccessible at the time of survey due to lack of ROE. Two portions of inaccessible parcels within the proposed ROW do not require archeological survey due to prominent landscape disturbances from both commercial and residential development and buried utilities. These localities are situated immediately west of station 190+00 and slightly east of station 200+00 (see Figure 6). Approximately 3.62 acres of inaccessible portions of the APE are characterized as moderate to high probability for the presence of intact archeological deposits, and are situated just west of SAL 41BP88. These areas are recommended for survey when ROE is obtained to identify potential archeological historic properties that may be impacted by the proposed undertaking. These parcels rest between station 220+00 and east of station 245+00