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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 Dune Palms HPSR 8-17 final_NAI_H7 CommentsState of California Transportation Agency Department of Transportation HISTORIC PROPERTY SURVEY REPORT [HPSR form rev 01-02-14] Caltrans, Division of Environmental Analysis. Copyright © 2014 State of California. All rights reserved. Alteration to the title and section headings is prohibited. Page 1 1. UNDERTAKING DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION District County Route Post Miles Unit E-FIS Project Number Phase District County Federal Project. Number. (Prefix, Agency Code, Project No.) Location Project Description: As part of the Dune Palms Road Low Water Crossing Replacement Project, a bridge will be constructed to replace the existing low-water crossing of Dune Palms Road across the Coachella Valley Storm Water Channel (CVSWC). The existing low-water roadway crossing width is a four lane roadway section with no median, an eight foot wide sidewalk along the western edge, and an eight foot shoulder along the eastern edge of the road which is 68 feet wide. Immediately north of the channel crossing, the existing right-of-way width does accommodate a second northbound through lane. In addition, Dune Palms Road approximately one-quarter mile north of the channel low-water crossing is a four lane roadway with a median. Immediately south of the channel crossing, the existing roadway width is sufficient to accommodate four through lanes. The existing adjacent roadway approach from the south consists of one northbound and two southbound through lanes and the northern roadway approach consists of one through lanes in each direction. The transition from one to two lanes in the southbound direction occurs at the midpoint of the channel crossing. The project proposes to remove the existing low-water crossing of Dune Palms Road at the CVSWC in the City of La Quinta, Riverside County. A bridge will be constructed to replace the existing low-water crossing of the CVSWC. The project will replace the existing concrete roadway with 480 feet long and 86 feet wide three-span bridge. The bridge typical section consists of six-foot sidewalk on both sides of the bridge, two (2) eight-foot outside shoulders also serving as bike/golf cart lanes, a 9’8” raised median, two (2) eleven-foot travel lanes, and two (2) twelve-foot travel lanes. The bridge will increase the existing roadway width to accommodate a median area; however, the existing configuration will be modified to accommodate the existing four lane roadway section to the south, and the City’s current improvement project to the north, which will widen Dune Palms Road to four lanes with a continuous center left-turn lane. The proposed improvements will include a significant vertical grade raise to meet the hydraulic requirements of the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD). The roadway at the bridge approach will be reconstructed to accommodate the raised profile. In order to match the roadway section on the south side of the bridge, the project’s construction limits will be extended to State Route 111. On the north side of the bridge, the project limits will be extended to include a vacant lot north of the project area. The vacant lot is owned by the City and may be used for storage and construction staging. As a part of the bridge construction, concrete slope protection will be installed along the north side of the channel. Additionally, minor removal and replacement of slope protection will be required on the south side of channel west of the proposed bridge and extension of slope protection approximately 300 feet downstream of the proposed bridge. The slope protection will be based on revised CVWD standards for scour countermeasures. As a result of the proposed cast-in-place drilled shaft bridge construction, scour protection within the bottom of the channel should not be required. The project will also require utility relocations for overhead electrical State of California Transportation Agency Department of Transportation HISTORIC PROPERTY SURVEY REPORT [HPSR form rev 01-02-14] Caltrans, Division of Environmental Analysis. Copyright © 2014 State of California. All rights reserved. Alteration to the title and section headings is prohibited. Page 2 distribution lines (Imperial Irrigation District facility), adjustment to both water valve can and lids and the manhole covers, minor 12” ductile iron pipe water main relocations at each bridge abutment, and relocation of both a 12” and 18” sewer line at the northern bridge abutment. The bridge design will incorporate a special architectural treatment on the bridge railing to achieve the community design goals. Both the north and southbound street approaches will incorporate alternative strategies that will reduce bridge deck noise levels. In addition, the project will follow current Caltrans Design Memo’s for reducing noise generated from traditional concrete bridge decks. The Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) and the communities within the Coachella Valley are working together on the implementation of a regional Bike/Pedestrian/NEV corridor (CV Link) along Whitewater River and CVSWC. In accordance with this plan, the project will be designed to allow for the integration of a trail under crossing within the southern slope protection. It also includes a trail connector to the pedestrian and bike facilities along Dune Palms Road. The project will require right-of- way acquisition on the northeast and southeast corners of the proposed bridge. The existing development at the northwest corner of the proposed bridge consists of a manufactured home park with one single family home on the same parcel of land. However, the existing mobile home park has a number of encroachments with site improvements within the street right of way. The project may require the acquisition and relocation of one single-family residence as a result of the raise in street grade for the proposed bridge. In addition, the project may need to acquire and relocate the residents of one mobile home located to the north of the single family residence. However, the project will be designed to avoid relocation impacts, pending approval by the property owners of a partial property acquisition and access modification. The existing roadway will be modified as a temporary bypass to allow for staged construction of the bridge, and to maintain vehicle and pedestrian access at all times. Temporary and short term access impact may occur during construction, and will require coordination with property owners, the public, and other stakeholders. 2. AREA OF POTENTIAL EFFECTS In accordance with Section 106 Programmatic Agreement Stipulation VIII.A, the Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the Project was established in consultation with Steven Holm, Principal Investigator, Prehistoric Archaeology, and Sean Yeung, Local Assistance Engineer, on xxxx xx, 2016. The APE map is located in Attachment A in this Historic Property Survey Report. The APE was established from the project footprint and includes all direct impacts, temporary construction easements, right-of-way acquisitions, and staging and storage areas. The horizontal limits of the APE north of the CVSWC are along the existing street right-of-way, along the west side of Dune Palms Road and include the entire intersection of Westward Ho Drive/Blackhawk Way and Dune Palms Road. The eastern extent of the APE north of the CVSWC includes the intersection of Westward Ho Drive/Blackhawk Way and Dune Palms Road and continues east approximately 500 feet to encompass the entireties of city owned parcels 600-030-020, 600-030-004, and 600-030-021, as well as privately owned parcels 600-030-019 and 600-030-010. The 35,000 square foot staging area is located within parcels 600-030-021 and 600-030-004. The Dune Palms Mobile Estates mobile home park is located within Parcel 600-030-010. South of the Dune Palms Mobile Estates, the APE includes an approximately State of California Transportation Agency Department of Transportation HISTORIC PROPERTY SURVEY REPORT [HPSR form rev 01-02-14] Caltrans, Division of Environmental Analysis. Copyright © 2014 State of California. All rights reserved. Alteration to the title and section headings is prohibited. Page 3 750-foot wide section of the CVSWC; this includes approximately 450 feet east of Dune Palms road and an approximately 300 feet west of Dune Palms Road. South of the CVSWC, the western limits of the APE include all of parcel 600-390-021, as well as portions of the La Quinta Corporate Center (parcels 600-390-023 and 600-390-010). The eastern extent of the APE south of the CVSWC includes the entirety of parcel 600-030-018. The maximum vertical APE is 80 to 100 feet. An Area of Direct Impact (ADI) was defined and includes all areas where ground disturbing activities will take place. The ADI is limited to the area along both sides of Dune Palms Road. However, where the road crosses the CVSWC, the ADI extends 300 feet westward into the CVSWC and 465 feet eastward into the CVSWC. 3. CONSULTING PARTIES / PUBLIC PARTICIPATION x Native Heritage Commission • A search of the Sacred Lands File was requested from the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) on October 22, 2014. On November 6, 2014, the Commission responded stating there that the search failed to indicate the presence of Native American cultural resources within the APE. The NAHC also provided a list of 20 Native American tribes or individuals to be contacted for further information regarding the Project vicinity (HPSR Attachment E). x Native American Tribes, Groups and Individuals • Letters requesting any information related to cultural resources or heritage sites within or adjacent to the Project were sent on 12 November 2014. If no response was received, follow-up emails or phone calls were made on 1 December 2014 and on 9 December 2014. • Agua Caliente Band of Mission Indians –On December 11, 2014, Patricia Garcia on behalf of the Agua Caliente Band of Mission Indians indicated that the project area is not located within the boundaries of Tribe's Reservation. However, it is within the Tribe's Traditional Use area (TUA). Ms. Garcia requested the presence of an approved Native American Cultural Resource Monitor during any ground disturbing activities (including archaeological testing and surveys). If buried cultural deposits are encountered, the monitor may request that destructive construction halt and that the monitor shall notify a qualified archaeologist (Secretary of the Interior Standards and Guidelines) to investigate and, if necessary, prepare a mitigation plan for submission to the State Historic Preservation Officer and the Agua Caliente Tribal Historic Preservation office. Ms. Garcia also requested the presence of an archaeologist that meets the Secretary of the Interior standards during any ground disturbing activities and indicated that the Tribe is particularly concerned with site P-33-08692 (CA-RIV- 6190) because it was recorded within the Project Area. • Augustine Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians—On November 25, 2014 Mary Ann Green, Chairperson of the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians indicated that she is unaware of specific cultural resources that may be affected by the proposed Dune Palms project. However, she recommended that a Native American monitor be present during all pre-construction and construction phases of the project. She also asked to be notified if any cultural resources are discovered. • Morongo Band of Mission Indians—On December 2, 2014, Denisa Torres, on behalf of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, indicated that the Dune Palms Project is State of California Transportation Agency Department of Transportation HISTORIC PROPERTY SURVEY REPORT [HPSR form rev 01-02-14] Caltrans, Division of Environmental Analysis. Copyright © 2014 State of California. All rights reserved. Alteration to the title and section headings is prohibited. Page 4 located outside of the Morongo reservation boundaries but within an area that may be considered a traditional use area or one in which the Tribe has cultural ties (e.g. Cahuilla/Serrano territory). Ms. Torres requested that if human remains are encountered during grading and other construction excavation, work in the immediate vicinity shall cease and the County Coroner shall be contacted pursuant to State Health and Safety Code §7050.5; and, in the event that Native American cultural resources are discovered during project development/construction, all work in the immediate vicinity of the find shall cease and a qualified archaeologist meeting Secretary of Interior standards shall be hired to assess the find. Work on the overall project may continue during this assessment period. If significant Native American cultural resources are discovered, for which a Treatment Plan must be prepared, the developer or his archaeologist shall contact the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. Additionally, if requested by the Tribe, the developer or the project archaeologist shall, in good faith, consult on the discovery and its disposition (e.g. avoidance, preservation, return of artifacts to tribe, etc.). • Los Coyotes Band of Mission Indians, Shane Chapparosa, Chairman—On 12/9/2014, Cogstone was informed that John Perada is responsible for Native American consultation. An email and a voicemail were sent to updated contact information. No response to the inquiry was received from Mr. Perada. • Ramona Band of Mission Indians, Joseph Hamilton, Chairman—On 12/9/2014 Cogstone was informed that Mr. John Gomez is responsible for Native American Consultation, he requested a digital copy of the letter to his new email. No further response was received. • Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, Mary Resvaloso, Chairperson—On 12/9/2014 Mr. Ferrar on behalf of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians indicated that he was the contact person for the Tribe. He stated that he received the consultation letter and asked for associated cultural and environmental reports related to the project area. Appropriate documents were sent, no further response was received. • Santa Rosa Band of Mission Indians, John Marcus, Chairman—On December 1st, 2014, the tribal administrator for the Santa Rosa Band of Mission Indians informed Cogstone that the City of La Quinta is in the jurisdiction of the Cabazon Tribes and to please defer to them for consultation. • Cahuilla Band of Indians, Luther Salgado. Mr. Salgado provided updated information and received a digital copy of the consultation letter. No further responses where received. • Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, Judy Stapp, Director of Cultural Affairs. On November 19th, 2014, Ms. Judy Stapp on behalf of the Cabazon Mission Indians indicated that the Dune Palms Project is located outside of the Tribe's current reservation boundaries. The Tribe has no specific archival information on the site indicating that it may be a sacred/religious site or other site of Native American cultural value. • Ramona Band of Mission Indians, Manuel Hamilton, Vice Chairperson. No Response. Prior to beginning the Extended Phase I program, another set of letters to Native Americans was sent. A letter providing updated information about the project was sent by the City of La Quinta to the following Native American contacts on April 18, 2017: State of California Transportation Agency Department of Transportation HISTORIC PROPERTY SURVEY REPORT [HPSR form rev 01-02-14] Caltrans, Division of Environmental Analysis. Copyright © 2014 State of California. All rights reserved. Alteration to the title and section headings is prohibited. Page 5 • Luther Salgado, Chairman, Cahuilla Band of Indians • Ernest Siva, Tribal Elder, Morongo Band of Mission Indians • Karen Kupcha, Augustine Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians • Patricia Garcia-Plotkin, THPO, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians • Michael Mirelez, Cultural Resources Coordinator, Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians William Vance, Tribal Vice Chairman of the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians replied that the Band is unaware of specific cultural resources that may be affected by the proposed project. They recommended that a qualified Native American monitor be present during construction and they wish to be notified if any cultural resources are discovered. No other responses to the letter were received. In telephone calls on May 3, 2017, Patricia Garcia-Plotkin, THPO, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and Michael Mirelez, Cultural Resources Coordinator, Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, stated that they wished to supply a Native American monitor to observe the Extended Phase I study. An agreement for Native American monitoring was received from Agua Caliente, but not from Torres-Martinez. In a follow-up telephone call on June 20, Michael Mirelez of Torres-Martinez said that they could not find a qualified monitor and that they defer to Agua Caliente for Native American monitoring. The Agua Caliente Band of Mission Indians and the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians were asked if they wished to provide Native American monitors for the project. ECORP contacted Patricia Garcia-Plotkin, the Director of the Tribal Historic Preservation Office for the Agua Caliente Band of Mission Indians and Michael Mirelez, the Cultural Resources Coordinator, for the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians via telephone calls on May 31, 2017. Both Tribes initially expressed interest in providing monitors for the Project and both Ms. Garcia-Plotkin and Mr. Mirelez stated they would supply ECORP with monitoring agreements for the Project. A monitoring form was received from the Agua Caliente on May 31, 2017 and the final monitoring contract was signed June 25, 2017. Mr. Mirelez did not supply ECORP with a monitoring contract and Wendy Blumel from ECORP spoke with Mr. Mirelez by phone on June 20, 2017. Mr. Mirelez stated that the Tribe could not find a qualified monitor. Mr. Mirelez deferred to the Agua Caliente for Native American monitoring for the study. A contract for Native American monitoring by Agua Caliente Band of Mission Indians was signed June 25, 2017. Native American monitors were supplied by the Agua Caliente Band for the entirety of the Extended Phase I fieldwork. Documentation of Native American consultation is in Attachment E. 4. SUMMARY OF IDENTIFICATION EFFORTS x National Register of Historic Places x California Points of Historical Interest x California Register of Historical Resources x California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS) x California Inventory of Historic Resources x Caltrans Historic Highway Bridge Inventory x California Historical Landmarks _ Caltrans Cultural Resources Database (CCRD) x Archaeological Site Records • Eastern Information Center accessed 10 October 2014. State of California Transportation Agency Department of Transportation HISTORIC PROPERTY SURVEY REPORT [HPSR form rev 01-02-14] Caltrans, Division of Environmental Analysis. Copyright © 2014 State of California. All rights reserved. Alteration to the title and section headings is prohibited. Page 6 x Other Sources consulted • City of La Quinta Historic Resources Inventory Database (HRID): Negative. x Results: (Provide a brief summary and research results, as well as inventory findings.) • 143 cultural resources investigations have been completed previously within a 1- mile radius of the APE. Of these, 12 studies included portions of the APE. • 120 cultural resources have been identified and documented previously within a 1- mile radius of the APE. Two prehistoric archaeological sites (P-33-08692 and P-33- 16950) have been recorded within the APE. Of the other 118 cultural resources within 1-mile of the APE, 11 have been evaluated for inclusion on the NRHP and CRHR; however, none of them are currently listed on either register. Five prehistoric Native American and three historic archaeological sites are located within ¼-mile of the APE. One historic built resource, six historic archaeological sites, and 26 prehistoric Native American archaeological sites are located between ¼-mile and ½-mile from the APE. Finally, two historic built resources, four historic archaeological sites, and 71 prehistoric Native American archaeological sites are located between ½-mile and 1 mile from the APE. • P-33-08692 (CA-RIV-6190) was recorded in November of 1998 by CRM Tech. Located adjacent to the APE at the northwestern corner of the Highway 111 and Dune Palms Road intersection, this site was recorded as an extensive prehistoric habitation site with five loci of ceramics, burned bone, debitage, burned clay, and fire affected rock. A jasper Cottonwood Triangular projectile point was also recovered from this site. The Cottonwood Triangular projectile point indicates that this site was a late prehistoric Cahuilla habitation site less than 1000 years old. The site was not evaluated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR). Aerial photographs and the results of the field survey show that the location of site P-33- 08692 in the APE is now occupied by a USA Gasoline station and the La Quinta Corporate Centre. It appears that P-33-08692 no longer exists within the APE. • P-33-16950 (CA-RIV-8835) first was recorded in February of 2008 by CRM Tech. Located in the southeastern part of the APE and entirely within parcel 600-030-018 (see APE Map), the site was initially recorded as a light prehistoric ceramic scatter with daub and fire affected rock. CRM Tech conducted archaeological subsurface testing at the site in April of 2008. Testing revealed the presence of additional ceramic sherds, marine and freshwater shell, groundstone, charcoal, and faunal remains. Cremated human remains were also found during subsurface testing. Seven hundred fourteen artifacts were recovered during surface collection while an additional 712 artifacts were collected during subsurface testing. After human remains were found, additional recovery units were excavated around them revealing the presence of an additional 1,125 artifacts and ecofacts. Based on the results of the test program, CRM Tech did not think that P-33-16950 was a Historical Resource as defined by CEQA. However, when human remains were found, they said that P-33-16950 is a Historical Resource. The site has not been evaluated using NRHP eligibility criteria. As a result of the survey for the current Project (see Attachment B, ASR), ceramic sherds and daub, along with one flake (debitage), were identified near Dune Palms Road in the Area of Direct Impact State of California Transportation Agency Department of Transportation HISTORIC PROPERTY SURVEY REPORT [HPSR form rev 01-02-14] Caltrans, Division of Environmental Analysis. Copyright © 2014 State of California. All rights reserved. Alteration to the title and section headings is prohibited. Page 7 (ADI) and the P33-16950 site boundary was extended into the ADI. In July 2017 an Extended Phase I subsurface investigation was carried out to determine whether subsurface prehistoric archaeological deposits are present in the ADI. No cultural material associated with site P33-16950 was found in any of the 17 STPs in the ADI. In addition, evidence of previous disturbance was noted in multiple STPs as evidenced by the presence of modern debris at depths exceeding 60 and 70 cm below the surface. Intact native sediments were noted in two STPs at a depth below 60 cm, but no cultural material was noted in these sediments. Based on these results, it does not appear that the subsurface deposits within P33-16950 extend into the ADI. 5. PROPERTIES IDENTIFIED x The following archaeological sites within the APE are considered eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places for the purposes of this project only because they will be protected from any potential effects through the establishment of an ESA, in accordance with Section 106 Programmatic Agreement Stipulation VIII.C.3. See attached documentation. • P-33-16950 (CA-RIV-8835) x Bridges listed as Category 5 in the Caltrans Historic Highway Bridge Inventory are present within the APE. Appropriate pages from the Caltrans Historic Bridge Inventory are attached. • Local Agency Bridge 56C0266 6. HPSR to District File x Caltrans, pursuant to Section 106 Programmatic Agreement Stipulation IX.A, has determined a Finding of No Historic Properties Affected is appropriate for this undertaking because the following historic properties will not be affected. • P-33-16950 (CA-RIV-8835). The XPI program showed that there is no subsurface cultural material associated with this site in the ADI. Construction activities in the ADI will not affect this site. x Caltrans, in accordance with Section 106 Programmatic Agreement Stipulation VIII.C.5, has determined there are properties within the APE that were previously determined not eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, in consultation with the SHPO or formally determined not eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places by the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places and those determinations remains valid; see Section 5. • Local Agency Bridge 56C0266 7. HPSR to SHPO x Not applicable. 8. HPSR to CSO x Not applicable. 9. Findings for State-Owned Properties x Not applicable; project does not involve Caltrans right-of-way or Caltrans-owned property. State of California Transportation Agency Department of Transportation HISTORIC PROPERTY SURVEY REPORT [HPSR form rev 01-02-14] Caltrans, Division of Environmental Analysis. Copyright © 2014 State of California. All rights reserved. Alteration to the title and section headings is prohibited. Page 8 10. CEQA Considerations x Not applicable; Caltrans is not the lead agency under CEQA. 11. List of Attached Documentation x Project Vicinity, Location, and APE Maps • Attachment A x Archaeological Survey Report (ASR) • Attachment B: Sherri Gust, M.A., Molly Valasik, M.A., and André Simmons M.A.; January 2015. x Extended Phase I Proposal (XPI Proposal) • Attachment C: Roger Mason, Ph.D.; July 2017. x Extended Phase I Program Report (XPI Report) • Attachment D: Roger Mason, Ph.D.; July 2017. x Native American Consultation • Attachment E x California Historic Bridge Inventory sheet • Attachment F 12. HPSR Preparation and Caltrans Approval Prepared by: 8/3/2017 Consultant / discipline: Roger D. Mason, Ph.D./ Principal Investigator –Archaeology Date Affiliation ECORP Consulting, Inc., Santa Ana Reviewed for approval by: District 8 Caltrans PQS discipline/level: Steven Holm PQS: Principal Investigator, Prehistoric Archaeology Date Approved by: District 8 EBC: Andrew Walters Branch Chief, Cultural Studies Caltrans District 8 Date