Cultural Resources Inventory and Evaluation for the Memorial Park Detention Basin Project San Anselmo Marin County, California PREPARED FOR: 525 San Anselmo Avenue San Anselmo, California 94960 PREPARED BY: Cassidy DeBaker, M.A., Caitlin Harvey, M.A., and Chris Kimsey, M.A. Garcia and Associates 1 Saunders Avenue San Anselmo, California 94960 January 2015 STATEMENT OF CONFIDENTIALITY This report identifies the locations of cultural resources, which are confidential. As nonrenewable resources, archaeological sites can be significantly impacted by disturbances that can affect their cultural, scientific, and artistic values. Disclosure of this information to the public may be in violation of both federal and state laws. To discourage damage resulting from vandalism and artifact looting, cultural resources locations should be kept confidential and report distribution restricted. Applicable U.S. laws include, but are not be limited to, Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 USC 470w-3) and California state laws that apply include, but are not be limited to, Government Code Sections 6250 et seq. and 6254 et seq. Cultural Resources Inventory and Evaluation Garcia and Associates Town of San Anselmo Property Acquisition and Demolition January 2015 Bridge Building #2 and Riparian Restoration Project Marin County, California MANAGEMENT SUMMARY This report presents the results of the cultural resources investigation for the proposed Memorial Park Detention Basin Project in San Anselmo, Marin County, California. The town of San Anselmo is proposing to excavate a stormwater detention basin within the area of Memorial Park. The purpose of the proposed project is to reduce the San Anselmo Creek flood hazard risk and decrease the frequency and severity of flooding in Ross Valley to enhance property and public safety. The town of San Anselmo is applying for a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant and will be responsible for all project implementation. As such, this Project is a federal undertaking as defined by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and its implementing regulations, 36 Code of Federal Regulations Part 800. It is anticipated that the National Environmental Policy Act lead agency will be either the Army Corps of Engineers, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Project must also comply with the California Environmental Quality Act. Therefore, this cultural resources investigation was conducted to identify historic properties, including prehistoric and historic period archaeological resources and built environment resources, that may meet the definition of a historic property under the National Historic Preservation Act and 36 Code of Federal Regulations 800.4 or the definition of a historical resource under the California Environmental Quality Act. This report documents the methods used to identify potential historic properties within the Area of Potential Effects. Findings for this report are based on the following: • A records search at the Northwest Information Center of the California Historic Resource Inventory System at California State University, Sonoma; • Archival research and historic map review conducted at local, regional, and online repositories; • Consultation with Native American groups and individuals identified by the Native American Heritage Commission and with local historical societies; • A desktop geoarchaeological analysis of the Area of Potential Effects; • A pedestrian survey of the Area of Potential Effects; • Recordation of the American Legion Log Cabin (120 Veterans Place) and Memorial Park within the Area of Potential Effects on California Department of Parks and Recreation 523 forms and evaluation of these resources for their potential eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Resources. This investigation resulted in the identification of two previously unrecorded historic period resources located within the Area of Potential Effects: 1) America Legion Log Cabin, which is recommended eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Resources, and 2) Memorial Park, which is recommended ineligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Resources. The proposed project does not involve any physical changes, alterations, or modifications to the American Legion Log Cabin and the town of San Anselmo plans to implement protection measures during construction to ensure that there are no affects to the structure as a result of this project. Cultural Resources Inventory and Evaluation i Garcia and Associates Memorial Park Detention Basin January 2015 San Anselmo, Marin County, California Furthermore, the project has been designed to protect the Log Cabin from any potential flood related impacts in the event that the detention basin is flooded during a future storm event. While this investigation has not resulted in the identification of archaeological resources within the Area of Potential Effects, geoarchaeological data indicates that there is a high sensitivity for buried archaeological deposits. The buried archaeological sensitivity is predicated on the close proximity to Sorich Creek, the presence of recorded prehistoric sites within 0.5-mile of the Area of Potential Effects, and the presence of Holocene and Late Pleistocene aged alluvium deposits. Recommendations for the completion of Section 106 compliance are provided at the end of this report. Cultural Resources Inventory and Evaluation ii Garcia and Associates Town of San Anselmo Memorial Park Detention Basin Project January 2015 Marin County, California TABLE OF CONTENTS MANAGEMENT SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... I 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 PROJECT LOCATION .............................................................................................................................. 3 1.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 DEFINITION OF AREA OF POTENTIAL EFFECTS ...................................................................................... 3 2.0 REGULATORY CONTEXT ................................................................................................................. 6 2.1 FEDERAL REGULATIONS ....................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 STATE REGULATIONS ............................................................................................................................ 7 2.3 REGULATIONS CONCERNING DISCOVERY OF HUMAN REMAINS ........................................................... 8 2.4 LOCAL REGULATIONS ........................................................................................................................... 9 3.0 BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................................11 3.1 ENVIRONMENTAL .................................................................................................................................11 3.2 PREHISTORY .........................................................................................................................................11 8000 BC to 3500 BC (Paleo-Indian and Early Archaic): Pleistocene/Holocene Transition to Middle Holocene ...............................................................................................................................................12 Early Period (Middle Archaic) cal. 3500-500 BC ................................................................................12 Middle Period (Upper Archaic) cal. 500 BC-AD 1050 ........................................................................13 Late Period (Emergent Period) ca. AD 1050-1550 ..............................................................................13 Archaeology of the Project Area...........................................................................................................14 3.3 COAST MIWOK ETHNOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................14 3.4 HISTORY OF SAN ANSELMO .................................................................................................................15 Town of San Anselmo ............................................................................................................................15 Short Family .........................................................................................................................................16 Memorial Park ......................................................................................................................................16 American Legion Log Cabin .................................................................................................................18 4.0 RESEARCH AND CONSULTATION METHODS AND RESULTS ..............................................20 4.1 RECORDS SEARCH ................................................................................................................................20 4.2 ARCHIVAL