HomeMy WebLinkAbout6618; AGUA HEDIONDA STREAMBANK RESTORATION; Archaeological Assessment Sunny Creek Erosion Repair; 2015-10-14
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P L A N N I N GP L A N N I N GP L A N N I N GP L A N N I N G E N V I R O N M E N T A L S C I E N C E SE N V I R O N M E N T A L S C I E N C E SE N V I R O N M E N T A L S C I E N C E SE N V I R O N M E N T A L S C I E N C E S D E S I G ND E S I G ND E S I G ND E S I G N
L S A A S S OC IA T ES , INC .
703 PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD
SUITE 260
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA 92011
760.931.5471 TEL
760.918.2458 FAX
BERKELEY
FRESNO
IRVINE
PALM SPRINGS
PT. RICHMOND
RIVERSIDE
ROCKLIN
SAN LUIS OBISPO
October 14, 2015
Ms. Sherri Howard, Associate Engineer
City of Carlsbad Public Works Department
1635 Faraday Avenue
Carlsbad, California 92008
Subject: Archaeological Assessment for Storm Drain Repairs for the Sunny Creek Erosion Repair
Project, near Agua Hedionda Creek, City of Carlsbad (LSA Project No. HCR1504)
Dear Ms. Howard:
LSA Associates, Inc. (LSA) completed a cultural resources study for a storm drain repair project
within Assessor’s Parcel Number 209-040-15 near Agua Hedionda Creek in the City of Carlsbad
(City). The study included a records search for the entire parcel, pedestrian survey, and this summary
report. Archaeological and historical research included a records search and the examination of
historic maps and aerial photographs. Sixteen documented archaeological investigations have been
completed within a quarter-mile of the project area, one of which included a portion of the parcel.
Nine cultural resources have been previously recorded within a quarter-mile of the project area,
although none is within the parcel or project area.
LSA conducted an archaeological field survey on September 29, 2015, of the 0.21-acre project Area
of Potential Effects (APE). The survey consisted of an intensive pedestrian survey covering the
project APE along Agua Hedionda Creek and an existing access road. No previously recorded sites
were documented within the project APE and no prehistoric or historic sites, artifacts, or features
were identified during the survey. Based on the literature search and field survey, the project APE
retains a limited probability of containing cultural resources. The proposed project disturbance is
limited to an existing unpaved road and the creek channel; therefore, archaeological monitoring is not
recommended.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The City proposes the Sunny Creek Erosion Repair Project, which includes the repair of a culvert
outlet and bank on Agua Hedionda Creek near Sunny Creek Road in the City of Carlsbad, San Diego
County, California. Repairs will include stream bank stabilization, a culvert retrofit, and revegetation
of the site area. The project APE is located along Agua Hedionda Creek, northeast of El Camino Real
and College Boulevard as shown on the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-minute San Luis Rey,
California topographic quadrangle map (Figure 1).
REGULATORY CONTEXT
The project includes approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in accordance with Section
404 of the Federal Clean Water Act. Therefore, this project is a Federal undertaking and is subject to
L S A A S S O C I A T E S , I N C .L S A A S S O C I A T E S , I N C .L S A A S S O C I A T E S , I N C .L S A A S S O C I A T E S , I N C .
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36 C.F.R. Part 800, the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act (NHPA), as amended. The purpose of the NHPA is to provide guidelines for the preservation of
national history and heritage as public interest. Additionally, the NHPA emphasizes the need to
preserve our irreplaceable heritage for future generations. Section 106 of the NHPA requires Federal
agencies to take into account the effect of any Federal undertaking on existing districts, sites,
buildings, or objects that may be listed in, or eligible for listing in, the National Register of Historic
Places (NRHP). The research was conducted to identify cultural resources.
PROJECT PERSONNEL
The cultural resources survey was conducted by LSA, whose cultural resources staff meets Federal,
State, and local requirements. Ms. Natalie Brodie, M.A., RPA, served as Principal Investigator for the
project. Ms. Brodie completed the survey of the project area and prepared the report. Ms. Brodie has a
B.A. in Anthropology and Archaeology from the University of California, San Diego, an M.A. in
Applied Anthropology from San Diego State University, and has more than 14 years of experience in
the archaeology of Southern California.
NATURAL AND CULTURAL SETTINGS
Natural Setting
The project area is located along Agua Hedionda Creek. The elevation on site is approximately 100
feet above mean sea level. The geology of the region includes mainly Cenozoic marine sedimentary
rocks in the Peninsular Range. A late Tertiary marine deposit, the San Onofre Breccia extends from
the Santa Monica Mountains to Oceanside, just northwest of the project area (Norris and Webb 1990).
The climate of the region can generally be described as Mediterranean, with cool, wet winters and
hot, dry summers. Lack of rainfall limits vegetation growth and habitat types adapted to the dry
conditions of the region occur in the project area. The APE includes typical riparian habitat
vegetation, including oak, willow, and poison oak. Terrestrial animal resources in the region include
deer, fox, raccoon, skunk, bobcat, coyote, rabbit, and various rodent, reptile, and bird species.
Cultural Setting
San Diego County archaeological investigations indicate humans have inhabited the area for at least
10,000 years. Malcolm Rogers was the first to develop a cultural chronology of the region. In general,
they can be divided into five consecutive periods: Paleoindian, Archaic, Late Prehistoric,
Ethnohistoric, and Historic (Bull 1983; Ezell 1987; Moriarty 1966; Warren et al. 1993).
The earliest sites in San Diego County are identified as the Paleoindian period (9,000 to 8,000 YBP
[years before present]), and include the San Dieguito and Pauma complexes. The majority of these
sites are located around inland dry lakes, on old terrace deposits in the California desert, and on or
near the coast on mesas or terraces. The artifacts associated with this period are heavily patinated
felsite tools primarily consisting of scrapers, scraper planes, choppers, large blades, and large
projectile points.
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Around 8,000 years ago, changes in technology begin to appear in the archaeological record. During
the Early Archaic period, there is an increase in the use of grinding and seed processing technology
and a change in mortuary practices, indicating population movements or internal change (Moratto
1984). There is a marked increase in the exploitation of plant and animal resources inland and on the
coast. Artifacts associated with this period include an increase of Pinto and Elko series projectile
points, large bifaces, manos, metates, and core tools.
The Late Prehistoric period is characterized by a series of dramatic technological changes indicating
that around 2,000 YBP, people from the Colorado River area migrated to the Southwestern California
region. This period is characterized by the appearance of smaller projectile points, ceramics,
permanent bedrock milling sites, and cremation burials. There also appears to be an increase in the
establishment of permanent or semi-permanent seasonal villages indicating a shift to inland plant food
collection and processing.
The Ethnohistoric period occurred shortly before Europeans colonized Southern California.
Documentation by the Spanish and the material culture left by the native people indicate that at the
time of contact there were four distinct native groups, Luiseño, Diegueño, Cupeño, and the Cahuilla
(Kroeber 1925) in the area. During this period, the Native American populations dramatically
decreased and were quickly assimilated into the mission system. The project area is located on the
border of the Luiseño and Kumeyaay (Diegueño) territory.
The Historic period in San Diego County is generally divided into three politically defined periods:
Spanish, Mexican, and American periods. The Spanish colonists first settled the Southern California
region in 1769 and established military and religious institutions along the coast. In 1821, Mexico
won independence from Spain and California came under Mexican rule. By 1834, the Spanish
missions had been secularized and large tracts of land, or ranchos, were granted to Mexican citizens.
The project area is within the Rancho Agua Hedionda. Mexican rule ended with the signing of the
Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo in 1848 when California was ceded to the United States.
History of Agua Hedionda and Carlsbad. Rancho Agua Hedionda originally consisted of 13,311
acres and was granted to Juan María Romualdo Marrón in 1842 by Mexican Governor Juan Bautista
Alvarado (Christenson and Sweet 2008). The land had been used for sheep ranching to support
Mission San Luis Rey, but following secularization, the rancho was converted to cattle ranching
(Christenson and Sweet 2008). One of the main features at the Rancho includes the Marrón adobe,
which was restored in the late 1940s (Christenson and Sweet 2008).
The City of Carlsbad first began as a train stop and tourist destination when a mineral spring was
discovered in the area in 1880s by John Frazier (Sprague-Bentley 2009). Frazier settled just south of
Buena Vista Lagoon and, realizing the difficulty of farming without a reliable water supply, started to
dig a well. Water was discovered at 245 feet in 1885 and the newly tapped mineral and artisanal well
provided water to the Frazier farm and to thirsty railroad passengers stopping at Carlsbad (Carlsbad
Historical Society n.d.). The discovery of water increased the land value by 50 percent nearly
overnight. A school, general store, and hotels were quickly constructed to allow for new residents and
tourists, providing new opportunities for industry and development (Sprague-Bentley 2009). The
fledgling town, however, faced a dramatic decline in population after the initial boom in the late
1880s.
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Ed Fletcher formed the Carlsbad Mutual Water Company in 1919 to bring water from the San Luis
Rey River and, by the early 1920s, agriculturalists and families had moved to Carlsbad. Floriculture
excelled in Carlsbad, thanks to the mild climate and availability of water (Sprague-Bentley 2009).
The incoming U.S. Highway 101 in 1928 provided additional opportunities for development in
Carlsbad, although much of the surrounding area remained in agriculture for many years.
METHODS
Research
A records search of the study area was performed at the South Coastal Information Center (SCIC),
located at San Diego State University, on September 21, 2015. The SCIC provided records of all
previous surveys, archaeological sites, subsurface investigations, and all historic resources over 45
years in age that are located within a one quarter-mile radius of the project area. Site records of
archaeological sites and bibliographical references for all surveys and investigations within the one
quarter-mile search radius were copied. Historic maps and aerial photographs were investigated and
the following inventories were examined: National Register of Historic Places, California Register of
Historical Resources, California Historical Landmarks, California Historic Properties Directory, and
the California Points of Historical Interest.
Field Survey
The goal of the survey was to identify and document any cultural resources greater than 45 years in
age per the Office of Historic Preservation Guidelines (1995). To accomplish this, a pedestrian survey
of the project APE was conducted on September 29, 2015, by Ms. Natalie Brodie. The project APE
was surveyed on foot along the existing access road and portions of the creek bank that were
accessible.
RESULTS
Records Search
The results of the search indicate that the APE had not been previously surveyed, although 16
previous studies had been conducted within a 0.25-mile radius of the APE (Table A). No cultural
resources were previously recorded within the APE, but nine resources are located within a 0.25-mile
radius of the APE (Table B).
Table A: Previous Studies within a 0.25-Mile Radius of the APE
Report No. Author Report Title Date
SD-00103 Archaeological Planning
Collaborative
Archaeological Records Search and Field Survey,
Palomar Airport Excess Effluent Pipeline, San Diego
County, California
1980
SD-01498 Hector, Susan M. Archaeological Survey of Del Mar Financial Carlsbad,
California 1983
SD-01579 Wade, Sue A., and Susan M.
Hector Ph.D.
Archaeological Monitoring of the Encina Gas Pipeline
Project Profiles of Subsistence Patterns along the South
Shore of Agua Hedionda Lagoon
1986
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Table A: Previous Studies within a 0.25-Mile Radius of the APE
Report No. Author Report Title Date
SD-01605 Wade, Sue A. Archaeological and Paleontological Constraints for the
Fox Property 1989
SD-01892 Smith, Brian F.
Phase I Constraints Analysis Results of an Initial Cultural
Resources Survey of the Palomar Airport Road and El
Camino Real Road Widening Project
1990
SD-03528 Gross, G. Timothy, and
Ruth C. Alter
Archaeological Testing of a Portion of SDI-14,809, an
Archaeological Site on a Segment of the South Agua
Hedionda Trunk Sewer Carlsbad, California
1998
SD-04111 Seeman, Larry Draft Environmental Impact Report Revised Parks and
Recreation Element, Carlsbad, California 1982
SD-04972 RECON Draft Environmental Impact Report for Del Mar
Financial Carlsbad, California 1983
SD-06589 Robbins-Wade, Mary Archaeological Survey & Testing for the Terraces at
Sunny Creek, Carlsbad, California 1997
SD-08742 Fink, Gary R. Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Letterbox
Canyon Landfill Site, Project SS6401 1973
SD-09146
Tang, Bai, Michael Hogan,
Josh Smallwood, Terry
Jacquemain, and Laura
Hensley Shaker
Identification and Evaluation of Historic Properties San
Diego County Water Authority Seawater Desalination
Project in the Cities of Carlsbad, Vista, and San Marcos,
San Diego County, California
2004
SD-09571 Guerrero, Monica C., and
Dennis R. Gallegos
City of Carlsbad Water and Sewer Master Plans Cultural
Resource Background Study City of Carlsbad, California 2003
SD-11212 Wade, Sue A. Archaeological and Paleontological Constraints for the
Fox Property (Recon Number 2078A) 1989
SD-12042 Guerrero, Monica, and
Dennis R. Gallegos
Cultural Resources Survey for the Cliff Hanger Project
Carlsbad, California 2008
SD-12422 Ni Ghabhlain, Sinead, and
Drew Pallette
A Cultural Resources Inventory for the Route
Realignment of the Proposed Pf. Net/AT&T Fiber Optics
Conduit Oceanside to San Diego, California
2001
SD-13281 Zepeda-Herman, Carmen,
and Harry J. Price
Cultural Resources Survey for the Rancho Milagro,
Carlsbad, California 2010
Table B: Previously Recorded Resources within a 0.25-Mile Radius of the APE
Site Number Type Recorder and Year
P-37-009698 (CA-SDI-9698) Prehistoric shell midden Hector (1983)
P-37-009699 (CA-SDI-9699) Prehistoric shell midden Hector (1983)
P-37-009700 (CA-SDI-9700) Prehistoric shell midden and habitation debris Hector (1983);
Robbins-Wade (1997)
P-37-009701 (CA-SDI-9701) Prehistoric village site
Hector (1983)
Robbins-Wade (1997)
Cordova and Doose (2014)
P-37-015592 (CA-SDI-14337) Prehistoric lithic and shell scatter Shultz, et al. (1996)
P-37-015593 (CA-SDI-14338) Prehistoric shell scatter Shultz, et al. (1996)
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Table B: Previously Recorded Resources within a 0.25-Mile Radius of the APE
Site Number Type Recorder and Year
P-37-015594 (CA-SDI-14339H) Historic building/structure complex Shultz, et al. (1996)
P-37-018241 Historic structure Whitehouse (1999)
P-37-018242 Historic residence Whitehouse (1999)
Field Survey
The pedestrian field survey was completed by Natalie Brodie, M.A., RPA on September 29, 2015. No
previously recorded sites were documented within the project APE and no new prehistoric or historic
sites, artifacts, or features were identified during the survey. The majority of the APE is within an
active creek channel (Agua Hedionda Creek) and the unpaved access road has been disturbed over
many years (Photographs 1 and 2). Vegetation includes oak, willow, and non-native grasses along the
creek bank.
DISCUSSION
Recent records search data indicate that no previously recorded cultural resources or historic
properties are located within the current APE. The majority of the APE is within an active creek
channel, and the surrounding area has been graded for an existing access road. No cultural material
was observed during the pedestrian survey of the accessible portions of the APE along the creek
banks. Because the APE is within the creek channel, the likelihood for cultural deposits is low. The
proposed project includes removing existing riprap and stabilizing the eroded slope around a concrete
storm drain. Based on the results of the records search and pedestrian survey, the proposed project
will have no effect historic properties. No further work is recommended at this time.
Sincerely,
LSA ASSOCIATES, INC.
Natalie Brodie, M.A., RPA
Senior Cultural Resources Manager
Attachments: Citations
Photograph Sheet
Figure 1 showing Project APE on a USGS 7.5-minute Topographic Map
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CITATIONS
Bull, Charles
1983 Shaking the Foundations: The Evidence for San Diego Prehistory. Casual Papers, Cultural
Resource Management Center, Department of Anthropology, San Diego State University.
Carlsbad Historical Society
n.d. History of Carlsbad. www.carlsbadhistoricalsociety.com. Accessed July 5, 2012.
Christenson, Lynne N., and Ellen L. Sweet
2008 Images of America: Ranchos of San Diego County. Arcadia Press, Charleston, North
Carolina.
Ezell, Paul
1987 “The Harris Site—An Atypical San Dieguito Site or am I beating a Dead Horse?” In San
Dieguito–La Jolla: Chronology and Controversy, edited by Dennis Gallegos, pp. 15–22.
San Diego Archaeological Society Research Paper No. 1. San Diego.
Kroeber, A.L.
1925 The Handbook of Indians of California. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 78.
Smithsonian Institute, Washington. Reprinted in 1976 by Drover Publications, New York.
Moriarty, James R., III
1966 Culture Phase Divisions Suggested by Typological Change Coordinated with
Stratigraphically Controlled Radiocarbon Dating at San Diego. Canadian Journal of
Anthropology.
Moratto, M.J.
1984 California Archaeology. Academic Press, Inc. San Diego, California.
Norris, Robert M., and Robert W. Webb
1990 Geology of California. Second Edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York.
Office of Historic Preservation
1995 Instructions for Recording Historical Resources. OHP, Sacramento, California.
Sprague-Bentley, Jeannie
2009 Images of America: Carlsbad. Arcadia Press, Charleston, North Carolina.
Warren, Claude N., Gretchen Siegler, and Frank Dittmer
1993 Paleoindian and Early Archaic Periods. An Historic Properties Background Study for the
City of San Diego Clean Water Program.
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PHOTOGRAPHS
Photograph 1: Eroded slope on south bank of Agua Hedionda Creek, view to southwest.
Photograph 2: Project APE in Creek Channel, view from existing riprap toward the west.
SOURCE: USGS 7.5' Quad - San Luis Rey (1975), CA
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FIGURE 1
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