Placer County Water Agency Middle Fork American River Project (FERC No. 2079) Cultural Technical Working Group Meeting November 18, 2008

Cultural Resource Inventory Study Results

3 Inventory Work Completed in 2008  Conducted additional records searches to identify previous studies and/or previously recorded resources within one- mile radius of four Project snow courses  The snow courses are located in the upper Watershed, east of Hell Hole and French Meadows reservoirs  Relocated and examined two previously recorded resources to verify location and condition of resources  Revisited two previously unknown resources that were found in 2007  Conducted field surveys to identify new resources

Inventory Effort/Results  Additional record searches related to Project snow courses  Identified 15 previous studies within 1 mile of each of the snow course locations  Identified 26 previously recorded cultural resources within 1 mile of the snow course locations  Resources include Basque tree carving sites, prehistoric bedrock milling sites, lithic scatters, prehistoric campsites, and 1 petroglyph site  None of these sites is located within 200 feet of a snow course location

Inventory Effort/Results  Relocated and examined two previously recorded resources to verify location and condition of resource  Relocated one resource that was originally recorded as a bedrock milling station and flake scatter (FS )  Relocated one resource that was originally recorded as a single bedrock mortar (FS )  Resource was thought to be a natural feature in 2007  Surveys in 2008 indicate the feature is a shallow bedrock mortar placed in a natural depression on the rock

Inventory Effort/Results  Revisited two previously unknown resources that were found in 2007  Revisited a mining settlement that was originally recorded in Updated record to reflect additional features found during 2008 surveys (FS )  Revisited a resource that was found in 2007 and thought to be a ditch segment. Determined to be a recent feature based on 2008 survey (PL-02)

Inventory Effort/Results  Conducted surveys to identify new resources within 200 feet of the following features or areas:  Project reservoirs  Existing Project facilities  Potential Project betterments  Project snow courses  2008 surveys augment survey work completed in 2006 and 2007  14 new cultural resources were identified during 2008 surveys

8 New Resources Identified in 2008  1 Native American rock art site  5 Isolated artifacts  8 Historic era resources (3 archaeological sites, 5 objects/structures)

9 Update on Implementation of Cultural Resources Eligibility Studies

10 Eligibility Studies  Purpose  Evaluate Resources to Determine if they are Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)

11 Eligibility Studies Determining Historical Significance   Criteria used to evaluate historical significance are found in 36 CFR 60.4   Criteria takes into account:   Age (50 years or older, or exceptional resources under 50 years of age)   Integrity   Significance Criteria   A. Associated with broad patterns in American History   B. Associated with important persons   C. Embodies distinctive characteristics of type, period, method of construction, high artistic value, represents work of master   D. Potential to yield information important in prehistory or history

12 Eligibility Studies   Distributed Draft Cultural Resources Eligibility Evaluation Plan on June 18, 2008 for review and comment (one letter received from Shingle Springs Rancheria)   Distributed Final Cultural Resources Eligibility Evaluation Plan on August 28, 2008   Obtained ARPA permits from the Forest Service to conduct shovel probes and test excavation units (TEUs) at specific sites   Notified Tribes of field schedule by letter dated September 18, 2008   Field studies conducted in 2008 (October – November)   Additional research regarding eligibility will continue through early 2009   Draft Eligibility Report will be distributed for review and comment in March 2009

13 Eligibility Studies   Eligibility Evaluation Plan identified four types of resources   Category 1 – Resources that will not be evaluated because they are not affected by Project operation and maintenance activities   Nine resources (two historic era roads, remains of a bridge, three historic era sites, one Native American site, one multi-component site, and one mining ditch)   Category 2 – Resources that will be evaluated because they could potentially be affected by Project operation and maintenance activities   Nine resources (four mining ditches, one dismissed ditch, one stream diversion berm, three Native American sites)   Category 3 – Evaluation approach to be determined pending further information   Four resources (one historic era site, two Native American Sites, one mixed component site)   Category 4 – Resources that have previously been evaluated for the NRHP   Four resources (four Native American sites)

14 Eligibility Studies   Four resources were identified as needing further information to determine whether evaluation is necessary (Category 3)   Two of these sites were determined not to be affected by Project operation and maintenance activities (FS , FS ). Therefore, evaluation is not necessary.   The other two sites were determined to potentially be affected by Project operation and maintenance activities (FS , FS ). Therefore, they were evaluated for NRHP eligibility.

15 Eligibility Studies   Evaluation effort includes:   Consultation with Tribes, other stakeholders, and resource agencies   Fieldwork to identify contents and boundaries of sites   Laboratory work to augment and verify field information   Acquisition and review of historical documents

16 Eligibility Studies   Consultation Approach:   Consult with Tribal representatives to evaluate archaeological resources   Determine those historic attributes that may be associated with each site recognized by the Tribe, recognizing that consultation may involve a broader geographical area than the defined boundaries of a given site   Develop understanding of the historical associations of the cultural resources   Notify Tribes if human remains, funerary objects, or sacred objects are discovered   Information developed through Tribal consultation will be documented and will remain confidential as designated by Tribal representatives   Consult with resource agencies regarding the evaluation of historic structures

17 Eligibility Studies  Fieldwork Approach  Shovel probes  Test excavation units where necessary (3 sites)  Field analysis of recovered materials

18 Eligibility Studies  Laboratory/Office Approach  Examination of artifacts  Obsidian hydration and radiocarbon dating  Sourcing studies  Consideration of results of excavation and lab-generated data to evaluate eligibility of sites

19 Eligibility Studies  Research Approach  Historic Structures  Gather and review historic data, including local histories, mining histories, historic maps and photographs, engineering documents, and materials found in archives and libraries of local and state historical societies and academic libraries to evaluate whether features identified during field surveys are “known” resources (i.e., named ditches, roads, and berms)  Evaluate the historical significance of each named ditch, road, and berm  Hydroelectric facilities to be evaluated by an architectural historian  Prehistoric Resources  Consult with Tribes  Acquire additional published and unpublished information from the Tribes and resource agencies to understand age, function, and integrity of sites

20 Eligibility Studies   Resources identified during 2008 inventory surveys   These resources will be addressed in a draft Supplemental Evaluation Plan that will be distributed to the Cultural TWG for review and comment.   Of the 14 new sites identified in 2008, three will require eligibility evaluation   PL-17 – Old road   PL-20 – Mining ditch   PL-22 - Rock art site   Evaluation effort will include:   Background research   Consultation with Tribes, other stakeholders, and resource agencies

21 Next Steps Draft 2008 Cultural Resources Inventory Report   PCWA distributes Draft 2008 Cultural Resources Inventory Report to Cultural TWG for review and comment in Nov/Dec 2008   Cultural TWG provides comments to PCWA   PCWA addresses comments and distributes final report to TWG Supplemental Cultural Resources Eligibility Evaluation Plan   PCWA distributes Draft Cultural Resources Eligibility Evaluation Plan to Cultural TWG for review and comment in Dec 2008   Cultural TWG provides comments to PCWA   PCWA addresses comments and distributes final supplemental plan to TWG

22 Next Steps (continued) Cultural Resources Eligibility Study   PCWA consults with Tribes, other stakeholders, and resource agencies   PCWA completes studies and prepares report   PCWA distributes Draft Cultural Resources Eligibility Study Report for review and comment (end of March 2009)   PCWA addresses comments and distributes final report to TWG   Eligibility results are provided to State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)

23 Relicensing Schedule Overview

24 Relicensing Process Schedule

25 Collaboration Topics

26 Development of Historic Properties Management Plan  Purpose  Describes a program to preserve and manage Historic properties and other important cultural resources potentially affected by Project operation and maintenance activities  Content  Overview of cultural and environmental setting  Definition of historic contexts  Historic properties and relationship to historic contexts  Potential project effects  Management and preservation of Historic properties

27 Other Studies that may Pertain to Tribal Interest

28 Other Resource Studies Aquatic Resources Studies (fish, mollusks) Terrestrial Resources Studies (raptors, deer, sensitive plants, noxious weeds) Recreation Resources Studies (facilities, use at developed facilities, dispersed use) Land Management Studies (transportation, fire)

29 Upcoming Meetings Schedule meeting for mid to late March Sign up for other TWG meeting notifications