Supplemental Cultural Resources Survey and Monitoring for Expansion and Rehabilitation of Wetlands Within the Arlington Wildlife Area, Maricopa County, Arizona

Summary

The Salt River Project (SRP), Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), and Ducks Unlimited (DU) are involved in a cooperative project designed to expand and rehabilitate wetlands for Yuma clapper rail habitat at the Arlington Wildlife Area (AWA), Maricopa County, Arizona. The project area is located on AZGFD land on the west side of the Gila River. The project area consists of a 14.4-acre AZGFD parcel that measures 2,264 ft (690 m) north-south by 262 to 328 ft (80 to 100 m) east-west. Project operations consisted of mechanical vegetation removal, construction of a 3.8-acre basin and associated drainage features in the southern portion of the parcel, and construction of berms in the northern portion of the parcel.

At the request of SRP, Logan Simpson Design (LSD) conducted a cultural resources survey of the subject parcel in August 2005. It was not possible to systematically survey a majority of parcel at that time because of two existing ponds and dense stands of tamarisk located in the area of the planned basin. A total of 5.57 acres within the AWA parcel that included all of the roads that surround the existing ponds and three narrow hand-cleared lines through the tamarisk bosque were surveyed in August 2005. The width of the corridor surveyed through the tamarisk bosque averaged 1 to 5 m wide. The 1883 General Land Office map indicates the presence of a historic homestead in close proximity to, if not within, the northeast corner of the parcel. This feature was not observed during the initial survey as this area was densely vegetated, primarily with tamarisk, and survey was not possible. Given the possible presence of the pre-1883 homestead, LSD recommended that an archaeological monitor be present during all project-related ground-disturbing activities in this area. Because it was not possible to systematically survey the remainder of the project area, LSD also recommended the entire project area be re-evaluated for the presence of cultural resources following planned vegetation removal and prior to additional ground-disturbing activities. Because the project is located on state land under the jurisdiction of AZGFD, the cultural resources survey and monitoring were completed in compliance with the requirements set forth in ARS § 41-861 et. Seq., the Arizona State Historic Preservation Act.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Salt River Project Digital Library   •
• SRP Miscellaneous

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Salt River Project Cultural Resource Manager

Contributor(s): Gregory B. Brown, M.A., R.P.A.

Collaborator(s): Ducks Unlimited

Landowner(s): Arizona Game and Fish Department

Sponsor(s): Salt River Project

Submitted To(s): Salt River Project

Record Identifiers

ASM Accession No.(s): 2005-0786

File Information