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Class III Cultural Resource Inventory for the Cucharas Dam Wetland Assessment Project, Huerfano County, Colorado

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Class III Cultural Resource Inventory for the Cucharas Dam Wetland Assessment Project, Huerfano County, Colorado Class III Cultural Resource Inventory for the Cucharas Dam Wetland Assessment Project, Huerfano County, Colorado Prepared for Wenck Associates Prepared by SWCA Environmental Consultants October 2016 Contains Privileged Information – Do Not Release Class III Cultural Resource Inventory for the Cucharas Dam Wetland Assessment Project, Huerfano County, Colorado Prepared for: Wenck Associates 1904 East 15th Street Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001 Prepared by: Melanie A. Medeiros and Vanesa Zietz Principal Investigator: Scott Phillips SWCA Environmental Consultants 295 Interlocken Boulevard, Suite 300 Broomfield, Colorado 80021 Phone: 303-487-1183 or Fax: 303-487-1245 www.swca.com State of Colorado Archaeological Permit 2016-47 SWCA Cultural Resource Report No. 16-567 SWCA Project No. 40194 October 10, 2016 CONTAINS PRIVILEGED INFORMATION—DO NOT RELEASE Class III Cultural Resource Inventory for the Cucharas Dam Wetland Assessment Project, Huerfano County, Colorado ABSTRACT Wenck Associates contracted SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) to conduct a cultural resource inventory for the Cucharas Dam No. 5 wetland assessment project in Huerfano County, Colorado. Per the requirements outlined in a Consent Decree dated April 28, 2016, issued by the Colorado District Court, Water Division 2, in regards to Cucharas Dam No. 5, and on behalf of Two Rivers Water & Farming Company (project proponent), Cucharas Dam No. 5 is proposed for breaching and for a channel to be cut through the existing pool sediments to allow water to pass through the Cucharas Reservoir while plans to construct a new dam downstream of the existing dam are completed. The cultural resource inventory was conducted to ensure project compliance regarding historic properties under Title 54 United States Code § 300101 et seq., National Park Service and Related Programs (formerly known as the National Historic Preservation Act [16 United States Code 470]) and its implementing regulations (Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations Part 800), in support of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 permitting under Nationwide Permit 27. The Cucharas Dam and Reservoir (5HF726) is the only cultural resource identified in the project area. The importance of the dam and reservoir site lies in its water rights and unrealized supply capacity. The value of the water rights, the lands and purposes for which the water is appropriated, and the decreed storage allowance of the reservoir were largely the impetus for the persistence of Cucharas Dam and Reservoir and for the current investments in rehabilitating the dam and its pool. Otherwise history shows that the dam and reservoir never reached their promise of either water storage and delivery or supplying irrigated agricultural lands and industry. Previously, in 1982, the Huerfano County Historical Society recommended collecting additional data to determine the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility of 5HF726. More in-depth historical research by SWCA demonstrates that, while attempted, the development and operation of the Cucharas Dam and Reservoir ultimately did not achieve the contributions to events in history that even its builders and promoters intended, namely importance in the establishment and growth of the agricultural industry and settlement around Pueblo, Colorado. Overall 5HF726, while presenting an intriguing backstory of grand plans not met, does not rise to any level of historical significance. The Cucharas Dam and Reservoir site (5HF726) is recommended not eligible for NRHP listing under any criteria. 5HF726 is recommended not eligible for NRHP inclusion. No other cultural resources are identified in the area of potential effects for the current project. As a result, it is SWCA’s professional recommendation that a finding of No Historic Properties Affected can be concluded. No further work is advised prior to the proposed project being permitted to proceed as planned. Contains Privileged Information—Do Not Release ii Class III Cultural Resource Inventory for the Cucharas Dam Wetland Assessment Project, Huerfano County, Colorado This page intentionally left blank. Contains Privileged Information—Do Not Release iii Class III Cultural Resource Inventory for the Cucharas Dam Wetland Assessment Project, Huerfano County, Colorado TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... II CULTURAL RESOURCE SURVEY MANAGEMENT INFORMATION FORM .............. VI UNDERTAKING / PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................ 1 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ............................................................................................... 2 Hydrology .............................................................................................................................. 3 Climate ................................................................................................................................... 3 Flora and Fauna ...................................................................................................................... 4 Geology .................................................................................................................................. 4 Soils ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Land Use Patterns .................................................................................................................. 5 CULTURE HISTORY ............................................................................................................... 5 Prehistoric Overview .............................................................................................................. 5 Historic Overview .................................................................................................................. 6 PREVIOUS WORK ................................................................................................................... 8 Literature Review ................................................................................................................... 8 Land Patent Search ................................................................................................................. 9 Historic Map Review ............................................................................................................. 9 STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES/RESEARCH DESIGN ...................................................... 10 Objectives ............................................................................................................................. 10 Expected Results .................................................................................................................. 10 FIELD METHODS .................................................................................................................. 10 Site and Isolated Find Recording ......................................................................................... 11 Artifact Description .............................................................................................................. 11 Resource Evaluation............................................................................................................. 12 RESULTS ................................................................................................................................ 13 5HF726: Cucharas Dam and Reservoir................................................................................ 13 CONCLUSION, EVALUATION OF EFFECTS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................ 29 REFERENCES CITED ............................................................................................................ 30 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Previous Inventories ........................................................................................................... 8 2 Previously Recorded Sites .................................................................................................. 9 Contains Privileged Information—Do Not Release iv Class III Cultural Resource Inventory for the Cucharas Dam Wetland Assessment Project, Huerfano County, Colorado TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1 Project location. ................................................................................................................ vii 2 Aerial overview of project location. ................................................................................ viii 3 Overview of the environmental setting from the top of Cucharas Dam, upstream towards Cucharas Reservoir, facing south. ........................................................................ 2 4 Overview of the environmental setting from the top of Cucharas Dam, downstream, facing north-northeast. ........................................................................................................ 3 5 5HF726 sketch map. ......................................................................................................... 14 6 5HF726 site overview, facing east-northeast. .................................................................. 15 7 5HF726 stairs associated with Feature 1 with Feature 3 in background, facing northwest. ......................................................................................................................... 16 8 5HF726 Feature 1, Cucharas Dam, facing east-southeast.
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