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Phase I Cultural Resources Report

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Phase I Cultural Resources Report DSRT SURF Specific Plan EIR (SCH # 2019011044) Technical Appendices APPENDIX D Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey Desert Willow Golf Resort Development Project Prepared by CRM Tech 1016 East Cooley Drive, Suite A/B Colton, CA 92324 August 30, 2018 Tribal Consultation Request Letters and Responses D-1 HISTORICAL/ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES SURVEY DESERT WILLOW GOLF RESORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Assessor’s Parcel Nos. 620-400-008, 620-430-023, and 620-430-024 City of Palm Desert, Riverside County, California For Submittal to: Planning Division City of Palm Desert 73510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 Prepared for: Nicole Criste Terra Nova Planning and Research, Inc. 42635 Melanie Place, Suite 101 Palm Desert, CA 92211 Prepared by: CRM TECH 1016 E. Cooley Drive, Suite A/B Colton, CA 92324 Bai “Tom” Tang, Principal Investigator Michael Hogan, Principal Investigator August 30, 2018 CRM TECH Contract No. 3361 Title: Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey: Desert Willow Golf Resort Development Project, Assessor’s Parcel Nos. 620-400-008, 620-430-023, and 620-430-024, City of Palm Desert, Riverside County, California Author(s): Bai “Tom” Tang, Principal Investigator Daniel Ballester, Archaeologist/Field Director Nina Gallardo, Archaeologist/Native American Liaison Consulting Firm: CRM TECH 1016 E. Cooley Drive, Suite A/B Colton, CA 92324 (909) 824-6400 Date: August 30, 2018 For Submittal to: Planning Division City of Palm Desert 73510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 (760) 346-0611 Prepared for: Nicole Criste Terra Nova Planning and Research, Inc. 42635 Melanie Place, Suite 101 Palm Desert, CA 92211 (760) 341-4800 Project Size: Approximately 17.7 acres USGS Quadrangle: Myoma, Calif., 7.5’ quadrangle (Section 4, T5S R6E, San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian) Keywords: Coachella Valley, western Colorado Desert; no “historical resources” affected EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Between June and August 2018, at the request of Terra Nova Planning and Research, Inc., CRM TECH performed a cultural resources survey on Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 620-400-008, 620-430-023, and 620-430-024 in the northern portion of the City of Palm Desert, Riverside County, California. The three parcels encompass a total of approximately 17.7 acres of vacant land, including a portion of an existing parking lot, located within the Desert Willow Golf Resort and to the southwest of Desert Willow Drive, in the west half of Section 4, T5S R6E, San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian. The study is part of the environmental review process for the proposed construction of a new resort complex with approximately 300 hotel rooms and a surf lagoon. The City of Palm Desert, as the lead agency for the project, required the study in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The purpose of the study is to provide the City with the necessary information and analysis to determine whether the proposed project would cause substantial adverse changes to any “historical resources,” as defined by CEQA, that may exist in or around the project area. In order to identify and evaluate such resources, CRM TECH conducted a historical/ archaeological resources records search, pursued historical background research, contacted Native American representatives, and carried out a systematic field survey of the entire project area. Throughout the course of the study, no “historical resources” were encountered within or adjacent to the project area. Therefore, CRM TECH recommends to the City of Palm Desert a finding of No Impact regarding cultural resources, pending the completion of Native American consultation by the City of Palm Desert pursuant to Assembly Bill 52 to ensure the proper identification of potential “tribal cultural resources.” No additional cultural resources investigation will be for the project unless development plans undergo such changes as to include areas not covered by this study. However, if buried cultural materials are encountered inadvertently during any earth- moving operations associated with the project, all work within 50 feet of the discovery should be halted or diverted until a qualified archaeologist can evaluate the nature and significance of the finds. i TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... i INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1 SETTING .............................................................................................................................................. 4 Current Natural Setting ..................................................................................................................... 4 Cultural Setting ................................................................................................................................. 5 Prehistoric Context........................................................................................................................ 5 Ethnohistoric Context ................................................................................................................... 5 Historic Context ............................................................................................................................ 6 RESEARCH METHODS ..................................................................................................................... 7 Records Search.................................................................................................................................. 7 Historical Background Research....................................................................................................... 7 Native American Participation .......................................................................................................... 8 Field Survey ...................................................................................................................................... 8 RESULTS AND FINDINGS ................................................................................................................ 8 Records Search.................................................................................................................................. 8 Historical Background Research..................................................................................................... 10 Native American Participation ........................................................................................................ 12 Field Survey .................................................................................................................................... 12 DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................................................... 12 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................. 13 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................... 14 APPENDIX 1: Personnel Qualifications ............................................................................................ 16 APPENDIX 2: Correspondence with Native American Representatives ........................................... 19 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Project vicinity...................................................................................................................... 1 Figure 2. Project area ........................................................................................................................... 2 Figure 3. Aerial image of the project area ........................................................................................... 3 Figure 4. Less disturbed portion of the project area ............................................................................ 4 Figure 5. Previous cultural resources studies ....................................................................................... 9 Figure 6. The project area and vicinity in 1855-1856 ........................................................................ 10 Figure 7. The project area and vicinity in 1901 ................................................................................. 10 Figure 8. The project area and vicinity in 1941 ................................................................................. 11 Figure 9. The project area and vicinity in 1951-1959 ........................................................................ 11 ii INTRODUCTION Between June and August 2018, at the request of Terra Nova Planning and Research, Inc., CRM TECH performed a cultural resources survey on Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 620-400-008, 620-430- 023, and 620-430-024 in the northern portion of the City of Palm Desert, Riverside County, California (Fig. 1). The three parcels encompass a total of approximately 17.7 acres of vacant land, including a portion of an existing parking lot, located within the Desert Willow Golf Resort and to the southwest of Desert Willow Drive, in the west half of Section 4, T5S R6E, San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian (Figs. 2, 3). The study is part of the environmental review process for the proposed construction of a new resort complex with approximately 300 hotel rooms and a surf lagoon. The City of Palm Desert, as the lead agency for the project, required the study in compliance with the California Environmental
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