HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDP 97-11; SDG&E Tower Access Road; Coastal Development Permit (CDP) (3)Affinis
Shadow Volley Center • 847 Jamacha Rood • El Cojon, California 92019 • (619) 441-0144
September 11, 1996
Mr. Ted James, Land Planner
SDG&E
PO Box 1831
San Diego, CA 92112
REFERENCE: RESULTS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD CHECK FOR THE
TOWER 73 ACCESS PROJECT - TL23002/23010
(Affinis Job No. 1177)
This letter report details the findings of a background study and an archaeological field
check for an access road improvement project planned by San Diego Gas & Electric
(SDG&E), in Carlsbad, in northern coastal San Diego County (Figure 1). The planned
project is located on an unsectionned portion of the USGS 7.5' San Luis Rey
quadrangle, Township 11 South, Range 4 West (Figure 2). The existing graded dirt road
lies east of Kelly Drive and west of Lisa Street, running south from El Camino Real for
approximately 500 ft to SDG&E Tower 73. The access road lies on the eastern side of
a wetlands area created by drainage from upland areas to the north. The Pacific Ocean
is approximately 2 miles to the west. The elevation of the project area is about 40 ft
above mean sea level.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The proposed project would repair SDG&E's access road to Tower 73 (TL23002/23010).
Repair operations would involve preparation of the existing dirt access road so that it
would accommodate vehicle passage in all weather conditions. The improvements
would include removal of trash and vegetation from the 12-ft-wide roadway, excavation
of the road to 1 inch below existing grade, installation of Geofabric, placement and
compaction of top soil, installation of 24 inch corrugated steel pipe, and application of
the finish grade. The planned improvements are shown in Figure 3.
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Affinis
Shadow Valley Center
847 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
Regional location in San Diego County Figure 1
PROJECT
LOCATION
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SETTING
The proposed project is situated in a region known to have been extensively occupied
and used prehistorically during Archaic times. Permanent fresh water would have been
available at Agua Hedionda Lagoon, approximately 1 mile south of the project area;
concentrations of prehistoric archaeological sites are recorded around this resource.
Fresh water could have been available seasonally from the unnamed ephemeral
drainage adjacent to the project, and from another unnamed ephemeral drainage,
located about 1 mile south of the project area.
The project is underlain by Salinas clay loam (Jenkins 1966). The soil type found in the
project area is alluvium, which has washed down from the higher elevations to the north
(Bowman 1973).
The project area consists of a 12-ft-wide strip of disturbed native and nonnative
vegetation, which has grown over the graded access road. Plants observed inside the
project area include fennel, ragweed, cocklebur, sow thistle, jimsonweed, Bermuda
grass, and various other nonnative grasses. Dense, ruderal wetland and ruderal willow
habitats are immediately adjacent to the access road. Some of the plant species present
include arroyo willow, fennel, thread palm, giant reed, pampas grass, and castor bean
(Pacific Southwest Biological Services 1996). Numerous birds were observed, including
hummingbirds, house wrens, house finches, and bushtits. Dog and/or coyote scat, as
well as rabbit pellets, were also noted.
The project area has been subject to extensive past impacts. A six-to-eight ft cut slope,
which runs most of the eastern length of the project area, was created by the grading
of the access road; construction of the Tower 73 pad has disturbed a 10-ft-by-10-ft area
at the project's southern extent. The adjacent riparian area is presently used as a camp
by migrant workers, and litter, presumably associated with the camp, is strewn
throughout the project area.
METHODS
Records searches for the project area and a one-mile radius were obtained from the
South Coastal Information Center (SCIC) at San Diego State University, and the San
Diego Museum of Man. The records searches reported that no previous archaeological
surveys had been conducted on the project property, and no sites had been reported.
The general area surrounding the project has been intensively examined for
archaeological resources (including investigations by Hector in 1981; Whitehouse in
1990, Kaldenberg in 1975 and 1976; Carrico in 1981; and Gross in 1973), however, and
a total of 24 previously recorded sites were reported within a mile radius of the project
area. Records search results are summarized in Table 1, and are contained in
Confidential Attachment A.
Table 1 Sites within a one-mile radius of the SDG&E Tower 73 Access Road
project area
South Coastal
Information Museum of
Center Number Man Number Site Description
Recorder
and Date
SDI-209
SDI-5353
SDM-W-3329 A prehistoric shell midden with
chione and pecten.
SDM-W-1430 A prehistoric shell midden with
chione and pecten.
Treganza,
n.d.;
Van Horn
and Murray,
1982
May, 1977;
Van Horn
and Murray,
1982
SDI-6133
SDI-6135
SDI-6140
SDI-8796
SDI-9649
SDM-W-120
SDM-W-1777
SDM-W-1782
SDM-W-126
SDM-W-3325
A prehistoric flake scatter with a
mano, a mano fragment, fire-
cracked rocks, pecten, and donax.
A prehistoric tool/shell scatter with
several mano fragments, a whole
unifacial mano, chione, and fire-
cracked rock.
A prehistoric shell midden with
chopping and pounding tools, and
fire-cracked rocks.
A prehistoric shell and artifact
scatter with chert and felsite
flakes, millingstone fragments, and
fire affected rock.
The Allan O. Kelly site, an
important prehistoric shell midden
with an associated lithic scatter.
Eckhardt,
1978
Rhodes,
1978;
McCoy,
1980; Van
Horn and
Murray,
1982
Eckhardt,
1978
Gardner,
1981
Rogers, n.d.;
Van Horn
and Murray,
1982
South Coastal
Information
Center Number
SDI-9650
Museum of
Man Number
SDM-W-3326
Site Description
A prehistoric sparse lithic scatter
and probable seed processing
station.
Recorder
and Date
Van Horn
and Murray,
1982
SDI-9652
SDI-9653
SDM-W-124 A prehistoric light lithic scatter with Van Horn
several mano fragments, a and Murray,
hammerstone, two cores, and 1982
broken cobbles.
SDM-W-3328 A late prehistoric lithic scatter with
several manos, hammerstones,
broken cobbles, and a scraper.
Van Horn
and Murray,
1982
SDI-9654
SDI-9655
SDM-W-134
SDI-10,024
SDI-10,025
SDI-10,444
SDI-10,609
SDI-10,610
A very dense prehistoric shell
midden with a mano fragment, a
core, and some flakes.
SDM-W-3330 A well-developed prehistoric
midden with a bowl/mortar
fragment, hammerstones, flakes,
mano fragments, and fire-cracked
rock.
SDM-W-132
SDM-W-133
(portion)
A prehistoric midden with shell
and cobble hearths.
A dense prehistoric shell midden
with four loci.
SDM-W-4684 A prehistoric shell and lithic
(A) scatter with two choppers, flakes,
and debitage.
SDM-W-3708 A prehistoric shell midden with
split cobble tools, a possible mano
fragment, and flakes.
SDM-W-3709 A prehistoric shell midden with
split cobble tools and large flake
scrapers.
Rogers, n.d.;
Murray,
1982
Van Horn
and Murray,
1982
Rogers, n.d.
Rogers, n.d.;
Hedges,
1977
Bissell, 1985
Wade, 1985
Wade, 1985
South Coastal
Information
Center Number
Museum of
Man Number Site Description
Recorder
and Date
SDI-10,611
SDI-10,612
SDI-13,124
SDI-14,151
SDM-W-3710 A prehistoric shell midden with
split cobbles, flakes, and flaked
tools.
SDM-W-3711 A prehistoric shell scatter.
SDM-W-133
(portion)
SDM-W-6632
SDM-W-130
A prehistoric midden with flakes,
cores, scrapers, mano fragments,
fire-cracked rock, and shell.
A prehistoric site with shell, tools,
and tool fragments.
A prehistoric habitation site with a
large shell component.
SDM-W-2043 Site location only; no site
description provided.
SDM-W-3631 A prehistoric sparse tool scatter
consisting of a core, a
hammerstone, and a flake.
Wade, 1985
Wade, 1985
Rogers, n.d.;
Hedges,
1978
Maxon, 1996
Strudwick
and
Gallegos,
1994
Rogers, n.d.
Strudwick
and
Gallegos,
1994
All of the recorded sites are attributed to the Archaic, or La Jollan Period (BP 8,500-2000-AD
1769); a few may have a Late Prehistoric component (post BP 2,000), as well. All but two
(SDI-6140 and -9655) appear to be small- or moderate-sized, surficial shellfish processing
areas. The two larger sites, SDI-6140 and -9655, exhibit a denser concentration and a wider
diversity of artifact types, and probably represent more intensively occupied living areas. The
closest of the 24 recorded sites, SDI-6140, -9655, -10,609, -10,612, and -13,124, are located
about one-quarter mile from the project area. SDI-6140 is located south of the project area,
about 100 ft from Agua Hedionda Lagoon. It is one of the larger-sized sites with chopping
and pounding tools, shell remains (predominantly chione and pecten) and fire-cracked rocks.
SDI-9655, also a large-sized site, is located southeast of the project area. It has well-
developed midden and abundant artifacts. SDI-10,609 is a small shellfish processing site,
located northeast of the project area. SDI-10,612 is a moderate-sized shell scatter located
north of the project area. SDI-13,124 is a moderate-sized, multiple locus site located
northwest of the project area. Site SDI-9649, located three-quarters of a mile southeast of
8
the project area is also of particular note. This is the Allan O. Kelly site, which produced the
official California State Artifact - a bear-shaped crescentic.
The field check was conducted by Affinis archaeologist Ruth C. Alter, on September 5, 1996.
She was accompanied by SDG&E planner Ted James, who provided field maps and
delineated the area of planned improvements. The 12-ft-wide by 500-ft-long project area was
completely walked. A 30-ft area beyond the southern extent of the project was also
examined. Approximately 30 minutes were required for the field check.
Ground visibility within the project area was generally poor. The majority of the ground
surface was covered by vegetation which impeded visibility. A few open patches of sand
were present, and these were carefully examined. The cut slopes present on the east side
of the access road were also examined. While heavy vegetation covered most of the vertical
surface, enough areas were clear to allow a general inspection.
RESULTS, IMPACTS, AND SIGNIFICANCE
No cultural materials were noted during the field check. The general area surrounding the
project has been extensively examined and numerous archaeological sites are recorded.
The closest of these sites are at least one-quarter of a mile away, situated on the periphery
of Agua Hedionda Lagoon, or on upland knolls overlooking the drainages that feed it. The
project setting, which is immediately adjacent to a wetlands, makes the presence of cultural
resources extremely unlikely. Further, the project area has been heavily disturbed; if cultural
resources had at one time been present, they would have been removed by the grading of
the access road and tower pad.
Because no archaeological resources were found, no impacts to cultural resources would
occur from implementation of the planned project. Therefore, no mitigation measures are
necessary.
Should you have any questions regarding this field check, please call me.
e.
Ruth C. Alter
Senior Archaeologist
RCA:cl
Attachment
REFERENCES
Bowman, R. H.
1973 Soil Survey: San Diego Area. United States Department of Agriculture.
Jenkins, O.
1966 Geologic Map of California: Santa Ana Sheet. California Division of
Mines and Geology, Sacramento.
Pacific Southwest Biological Services
1996 Biological Report of Environmental Conditions at the Site for the Access
Road for Tower 73, San Diego County, California. Pacific Southwest
Biological Services, San Diego.
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CONFIDENTIAL ATTACHMENT A
RECORDS SEARCHES
ON FILE AT AFFINIS