December 11, 2015 Cultural and Biological Resources Investigations - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

WestLand Resources, Inc. December 11, 2015 Cultural and Biological Resources Investigations Red Gap Ranch Environmental Assessment December 11, 2015

Scope of Investigations at Red Gap Ranch  Biological Resources Investigations  Existing Environment Description  Screening Analysis  Environmental Consequences Analysis  Cultural Resources Investigations  Class I Records Search  Class III Pedestrian Survey

Biological Resources  Description of Existing Environment  Screening Analysis/Potential to Occur  Potential Effects of Project Construction within RGR

RGR Biological Resources  Environment and Unique Habitats  Two biotic communities; ephemeral drainages/arroyos; stock tanks; no seeps, caves, or mines  Species of Concern  USFWS, NNDFW, USFS, AGFD; no BLM  Potential to Occur  Present, Possible, Unlikely, None  Potential Effects of RGR Construction  Onsite: Temporary construction-related disturbance

Cultural Resources  Current scope of analysis is archaeological resources – “the physical manifestation of past occupations”  Class I Records Search includes a search of databases and records of :  AZSITE/ASM database  NNHPD records  MNA records  NAU records  Government Land Office (GLO) Maps  Historic Topographic Maps

RGR Cultural Resources  38 archaeological sites  32 newly identified and 6 previously known; 12 recommended eligible for listing on National Register of Historic Places  Timeline of Occupation and Use  Paleoindian Period Archaic Period Late Historic  Treatment of Cultural Resources  Existing road system; avoidance and preservation always preferable; mitigation actions for those unavoidable impacts