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Home My WebLink About20210561 Ver 1_21-01-0005 NoSurveyReq-Arch_20210312Project Tracking No. 21-01-0005 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM 1 of 12 N O ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED FORM This form only pertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this project. It is not valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must consult separately with the Historic Architecture and Landscapes Team. PROJECT INFORMATION Project No: County: Iredell WBS No: DF17112.2049802 Document: Federal Categorical Exclusion Federal Aid No: Funding: State Federal Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: USACE; DWR Project Description: Replace Bridge 136 on SR 1561 (Liberty Hill Rd.) over the South Yadkin River in Iredell County. The Area of Potential Effects (A.P.E.), based on the study area provided by the project manager, is approximately 198 meters (650 ft.) long and 107 meters (350 ft.) wide. This is an emergency bridge replacement due to a flash flood event (Federal Emergency Management Agency funding). The failed bridge will be replaced on the same alignment with a new bridge. There will be minimal impacts to any land outside of the existing right of way. The project is state funded and will require federal permits, so this review is conducted pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions: The review included an examination of a topographic map, the Iredell County soil survey, an aerial photograph, and an examination of records about previously recorded sites, previous archaeological surveys, and previous environmental reviews at the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology (OSA) in Raleigh. An Archaeological Survey Required form was submitted on 1/27/2021. However, the recommendation was changed after an archaeological reconnaissance was conducted on 2/9/2021. The bridge is oriented approximately north-south. The topographic map (Central, N.C.) shows the A.P.E. is in a moderately wide stream valley (Figure 3). The landforms in the A.P.E. are floodplain along both sides of the river, and ridges at the north and south ends. The river valley on the east side of the bridge appears to be wider than the valley on the west side. The 1997 map depicts the floodplain on the east side as wooded and on the west side as cleared. Level, well drained land along streams has a moderate to high potential for prehistoric archaeological sites. Ridges can have some potential for archaeological sites, depending upon slope, distance from water, and elevation above water. The Iredell County soil survey shows several soil types in the A.P.E., including Codorous loam (0-2% slopes), Fairview sandy clay loam (10-15% and 15-25% slopes), Fairview-Stott Knob complex (25-45% slopes), and Ronda-Comus complex (0-5% slopes). Codorus loam is a somewhat poorly-drained soil found on floodplains. Fairview loam is a well drained soil found on ridges. Ronda-Comus soils are excessively drained soils found on levees on floodplains. Level Project Tracking No. 21-01-0005 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM 2 of 12 land with well drained soils near streams has a moderate to high potential for prehistoric archaeological sites. The aerial photograph shows all four quadrants of the A.P.E. are wooded (Figure 4). The elevation contour lines show some level areas along the river. Much of the southwest quadrant is sloped. The north and south ends of the A.P.E. are sloped. SR 1561 on the south side of the bridge was constructed in a drainage valley. Before the road and bridge were constructed there, the drainage valley probably emptied onto the floodplain in the southeast and southwest quadrants. A review of the web-based GIS data layers maintained by the OSA shows no previously recorded archaeological sites within or adjacent to the A.P.E. There are no projects that have been reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office (HPO) within the A.P.E. The A.P.E. is not within any areas that have been surveyed for archaeological sites. An archeological reconnaissance was conducted by NCDOT Division 12 Environmental Officer Jeffrey Wyatt and NCDOT archaeologist Caleb Smith on 2/9/2021. The visual inspection of the A.P.E. found the bridge replacement project would not impact any landforms with potential for prehistoric archaeological sites. Mr. Wyatt confirmed the emergency bridge replacement will not impact much land outside of the existing footprint of the road. The A.P.E. in the northwest quadrant appears to be a poorly-drained floodplain/terrace landform from the bridge north for approximately 90 meters (295 ft.) to a ridge (Figures 5-6). The flooding did minimal damage to this quadrant, other than washing away some riverbank. The trees appear intact. It did deposit sand in some places. There is a narrow, level area at the base of the ridge overlooking the floodplain (slightly outside of the study area for this project). It is occupied by a gravel driveway (Figure 7). The remains of a previous bridge are located approximately 50 meters (164 ft.) west of the current bridge, along the west edge of the study area (shown on Figure 4). The remains consist of two bridge abutments, one on the north bank and one in the river (Figure 8). The A.P.E. in the northeast quadrant appears to be a poorly-drained floodplain/terrace landform from the bridge north for approximately 190 meters (623 ft.) to a ridge (Figure 9). The flooding did little visible damage to this quadrant, other than losing some of the river bank. An unnamed stream runs south through the floodplain. It joins the South Yadkin River approximately 60 meters (196 ft.) east of the bridge. The presence of the creek may have helped drain the floodwaters. The A.P.E. in the southeast quadrant is a narrow strip of poorly drained floodplain/terrace from the river south for approximately 50 meters (164 ft.) to a ridge (Figures 10-11). The recent flooding caused considerable damage in this quadrant. It washed away several feet of the river bank, and upended several large trees. It also deposited several inches of sand on the ground surface (Figure 12). As mentioned above, SR 1561 on this side of the bridge was constructed within a drainage valley. It probably emptied into the floodplain in this quadrant. The A.P.E. in the southwest quadrant is a narrow strip of floodplain/terrace from the river south for approximately 40 meters (131 ft.) to a ridge (Figures 13-14). This quadrant appears to be within a drainage valley. (This project falls within a North Carolina County in which the following federally recognized tribes have expressed an interest: Catawba Indian Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Project Tracking No. 21-01-0005 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM 3 of 12 We recommend that you ensure that this documentation is forwarded to these tribes using the process described in the current NCDOT Tribal Protocol and PA Procedures Manual.) Brief Explanation of why the available information provides a reliable basis for reasonably predicting that there are no unidentified historic properties in the APE: The bridge replacement will impact a small area outside of the existing right of way. The landforms within the A.P.E. have a low potential for prehistoric archaeological sites. SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence Other: FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST: NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED Caleb Smith 2/16/2021 NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST II Date Project Tracking No. 21-01-0005 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM 4 of 12 Figure 1: Location of Bridge 136 in Iredell County, North Carolina. Project Tracking No. 21-01-0005 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM 5 of 12 Figure 2: Location of Bridge 136 on the Central, NC topographic map. Project Tracking No. 21-01-0005 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM 6 of 12 Area of Potential Effects Figure 3: Topographic map of the Area of Potential Effects (USGS 1997 Central, NC 1:24,000-scale topographic map). Project Tracking No. 21-01-0005 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM 7 of 12 Area of Potential Effects Old bridge abutments Unnamed stream Figure 4: Aerial photograph (with elevation contour lines) of the Area of Potential Effects. Project Tracking No. 21-01-0005 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM 8 of 12 Figure 5: North view of the former location of Bridge 136. Northwest quadrant Northeast quadrant Figure 6: South view of the floodplain in the northwest quadrant. SR 1561 Project Tracking No. 21-01-0005 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM 9 of 12 Figure 7: East view of the driveway at the north end of the northwest quadrant. Figure 8: Southeast view of the old bridge abutments in the northwest quadrant. Project Tracking No. 21-01-0005 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM 10 of 12 Figure 10: Southeast view of the former location of Bridge 136. Southeast quadrant Southwest quadrant Figure 9: North view of the northeast quadrant. SR 1561 Project Tracking No. 21-01-0005 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM 11 of 12 Figure 11: Southeast view of the southeast quadrant. Figure 12: East view of the southeast quadrant. Project Tracking No. 21-01-0005 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED” FORM 12 of 12 Figure 13: South view of the southwest quadrant. Figure 14: West view of the southwest quadrant.