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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3338; Agua Hedionda & Calavera Creek Dredging; Calavera Hills master Plan Phase II; 2000-05-12CULTURAL RESOURCES TECHNICAL REPORT FOR THE GALA VERA HILLS MASTER PLAN PHASE II, BRIDGE AND THOROUGHFARE DISTRICT, AND DETENTION BASINS CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA Prepared for PLANNING SYSTEMS CONTACT: PAUL KLUKAS 1530 FARADAY AVENUE, SUITE 100 CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA 92008 Prepared by ^^SSELL O. COLLETT PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST DAYLE M. CHEEVER ENIOR ARCHAEOLOGIST RECON NUMBER 3225A MAY 12, 2000 1927 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 9210"! 619/ 308-9333 fax 308-9334 \^ This document printed on recycled paper TABLE OF CONTENTS Management Summary 1 Undertaking Information 1 Setting 7 Research Design 11 Methods 14 Report of Findings 15 Discussion/Interpretation 18 Management Considerations 21 References 22 FIGURES Regional location of the project 3 Project site location 4 Project site location showing detention basins 5 TABLE 1: Previously Recorded Sites Relative to the Proposed Alignment Alternatives PHOTOGRAPHS View looking north to the Robertson house complex 19 Front view of the Robertson house 19 Rear view of the Robertson house 20 View of the complex of recent outbuildings east of the Robertson house 20 ATTACHMENT 1: Record search results Management Summary The following report presents the results of cultural resource investigations for the proposed Calavera Hills Master Plan, the College Boulevard/Cannon Road alignment alternatives within the Calavera Hills Master Plan area, and the Bridge and Thoroughfare District No. 4, located in the city of Carlsbad, Cahfomia. The investigation included bacitground research and pedestrian survey verification of the recorded cultural resources located within the study areas. The cultural resource investigation treated the proposed projects as distinct, but interrelated elements of the proposal. Prior investigations of the Master Plan area (Gallegos 1991; RECON 1976; Wade 1992) and areas in the Bridge and Thoroughfare District No. 4 (CoUett and Cheever 1999; Cheever and CoUett 1999; Corum 1993; Hector 1985; RECON 1976; and Wade 1992) resulted in the discovery and recording of cultural resource sites. Thirty of these sites are within the study area of the proposed projects. All but two of the archaeological sites in the Master Plan area were investigated during Phase I of the Master Plan and determined to be not important/not significant (Gallegos 1991; Wade 1992). The two sites not evaluated during the prior investigations are addressed as part of the current investigation. CA-SDI-5438 and CA-SDI-5439 are located within areas planned for open space and will not be impacted by the proposed Master Plan Phase II. As a result of the prior investigations and the insulation of CA-SDI- 5438 and -5439 in open space there will be no adverse impacts to cultural resources from the proposed Master Plan Phase II undertaking. The second aspect of this investigation was to assess impacts resulting from developing one of two alternative alignments for the extensions of College Boulevard and Canon Road and related road/drainage improvements and detention basins within the area southeast of the Calavera Hills Master Plan. The proposed project is to develop Reaches A, B, and C for College Boulevard and Reaches 3-4 for Cannon Road. Because it is not known which alignment will be selected, all of the sites located within the alternative alignments are subject to additional. investigations. When a specific alignment is selected, detailed mitigation will be proposed for significant sites located in that alignment. The number and type of sites within the proposed alternatives is provided in Table 1. Undertaking Information The current investigation is prompted by development of Phase II of the proposed Calavera Hills Master Plan and the Bridge and Thoroughfare District No. 4. These inten-elated projects are located in the northeast quadrant of the city of Carlsbad. Figures 1, 2, and 3 show their regional locations in San Diego County. TABLE 1 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED SITES RELATIVE TO THE PROPOSED ALIGNMENT ALTERNATIVES Alignment Alternative Site Number Site Description Cannon Road Reach 3, Alternative 1 Robertson Ranch House Historic era building Cannon Road Reach 3, Alternative 2 No sites within this alternative Cannon Road Reach 4 CA-SDI-8407 Marine shell and flakes CA-SDI-8465 A, B, C Bedrock milling features and marine shell CA-SDI-11,756 Marine shell and flakes College Boulevard Reach A, Alternative 1 and 2 CA-SDI-9092 Marine shell midden CA-SDI-9093 Marine shell and flakes CA-SDI-9094 Marine shell and manos CA-SDI-9615 Marine shell and flakes CA-SDI-15,069 Bedrock milling, shell, flakes, and historic debris CA-SDI-15,073 Bedrock milling, mano, metate and flake CA-SDI-018284 Isolate College Boulevard Reach B, .Alternative 1 CA-SDI-5416 Bedrock milhng, sherds, and flakes CA-SDI-5434 Marine shell College Boulevard Reach B, Alternative 2 No sites within this alternative College Boulevard Reach C (northeast) No sites within this alternative College Boulevard Reach C (southwest) CA-SDI-5436 Marine shell and flakes CA-SDI-12,470* Marine shell and flakes Previously evaluated and found not important/not significant (Wade 1992). Ril t 0 MILES 2.2 R-3225-reg.cdr 4.4 FIGURE 1 Regional Location of tlie Project 0 Map Source: U.S.G.S. 7.5 Minute topographic map, San Luis Rey quadrangle t R-3225a 0 FEET 2000 4000 FIGURE 2 Project Site Location of the Calavera Hills Master Plan Map Source; U.S.G.S. 7.5 Minute topographic map, San Luis Rey quadrangle t R-3226a 0 FEET 2000 4000 FIGURE 3 Location of Bridge and Thoroughfare District Number 4 and Detention Basins A. Calavera Hills Master Plan Phase II The project (see Figure 2) is a part of the Master Plan community of Calavera Hills. The adopted Master Plan area consists of 819 acres, which is divided into 26 villages. The Master Plan area is bounded by State Route 78 (SR-78) on the north. Calavera Lake is within a few hundred feet of the eastern edge of the property and the lake's downstream drainage roughly parallels the eastern boundary of the property. The southern boundary of the property is an east-west line approximately one-half mile north of the Rancho Carlsbad Trailer Park; this line was formerly a City of Carlsbad/County of San Diego jurisdictional boundary. The Master Plan's western extent is near Tamarack Avenue. The legal description of the property is within the western one-half of Section 3 and the eastern one-half of Section 4, Township 12 South, Range 4 West, and the southern one- half of Sections 33 and 34, Township 11 South, Range 4 West, San Bernardino Base Meridian. Figure 2 shows the Calavera Hills Master Plan boundary on a U.S.G.S. 7.5- minute quadrangle. An occupied San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) transmission line right-of-way trending northeast-southwest cuts diagonally across the southeastern comer of the property. In the north-central portion of the property, on the highest point in the Master Plan area, is a six- milhon-gallon steel tank water reservoir which is owned and operated by the Carlsbad Municipal Water District (CMWD). The individual villages under examination in this review are scattered throughout the Master Plan area. Village H is on the western border of the project. Villages E-1, H, K, and L-2 are located in the north-central "core" of the Master Plan area. Village R is located in the northeast corner of the project overlooking Calavera Lake, and Villages U, W, X, and Y occupy the southeast quadrant of the Master Plan area. The presently undeveloped northeast quadrant of the property, which is known as Villages L-L Q, and T, has been granted discretionary approval, but to date no construction activities have commenced. Villages A, B, C, D, O, J, and P-I are existing residential parcels within the Master Plan area. Single-family detached residences are found in Villages A, B, O, and P-L Villages O and P-I also have duplex product types. Village D is a residential area consisting of four-plex product types. Garden or patio homes are the product types of Village O. Village I is a multi-family residential development. Village M is the existing Hope Elementary School. Village E-2 and F comprise the existing Calavera Hills Community Park. Village I is an existing recreational vehicle storage area. Village S is planned as a junior high school and Village E-I is proposed for residential uses. B. Bridge and Thoroughfare District No. 4 Extension of College Boulevard and Cannon Road and Detention Basins The second area of research for this project is to assess the impacts resulting from developing one of two alternative alignments for the extensions of College Boulevard and Cannon Road and related road/drainage improvements and detention basins within the general area southeast of the Calavera Hills Master Plan (see Figure 3). The proposed project is to develop Reaches A, B, and C for College Boulevard and Reaches 3-4 for Cannon Road. Reach A of College Boulevard would extend northward from El Camino Real to the intersection with proposed alignments of Cannon Road north of the Rancho Carlsbad Mobile Home Park. Reach B extends from the proposed intersection with Cannon Road to the southeast corner of the Master Plan area. Reach C continues the alignment through the Master Plan area and connects with existing College Boulevard. Both Reaches B and C include two alternative alignments. Cannon Road Reach 3 includes two possible alternatives that would connect with the existing intersection with El Camino Real and continue northeast to the proposed intersection with College Boulevard, north of the mobile home park. Reach 4 would continue to the northeast along one of two possible alternatives and connect with existing aUgnments. Setting The existing land uses surrounding the Master Plan area include residential on the west and northeast, vacant land on the northwest and east, and agriculture on the south. North of the central portion of the site is mineral extraction area (see Figure 2). Topographically, the Master Plan area is located in an area of rolling terrain with some moderate and steep slopes. The dominant landform on the site is a hill in the north-central portion of the Master Plan area, which is. occupied by the water storage reservoir. This promontory is approximately 440 feet above mean sea level (MSL). The land slopes radically from this point and is dissected by a number of drainages. A serpentine east- west drainage separates the northwest quadrant of the Master Plan area. Runoff in the northwest, quadrant is channeled to Buena Vista Creek and ultimately to Buena Vista Lagoon. The, remainder of the site drains south to the Calavera Creek and Agua Hedionda Creek and Agua Hedionda Lagoon. The vegetation on the undeveloped portions of the site is a mosaic of burned chapairal, disturbed areas, grasslands, and various types of chaparral communities. The best quahty chaparral is located in the northern portion of the Master Plan area. The southeast quadrant of the Master Plan area has pockets of chaparral in areas degraded by fire. Also on the site are scattered areas of coastal sage scrub. There is also an area of sycamore alluvial woodland in an area of proposed development that is off-site. Scattered groves of eucalyptus trees also exist. The vegetation communities on-site contain many plants used by Native American populations for food, clothing, construction, and medicines. Well-known food plants on the site include flat-top buckwheat, lemonade berry, toyon, black sage, and Mexican elderberry. Willows were used in fabricating structures, clothing, and medicine. WildUfe species that would have represented food sources to Native Americans were also documented in the biological survey prepared for this project. The project site is also located near coastal lagoon resources that would have provided food sources such as clams, scallops, mussels, and bean clams. Tidal species and deep-water species of fish were also food resources. Lithic sources were also important factors in prehistoric population settlement patterns. Fine-grained metavolcanics were necessary for the construction of flaked stone tools. Granites and coarse-grained volcanics were necessary for the construction of grinding implements. Suitable flaked or ground stone raw materials can be found on a sporadic basis in the valley or creek bottoms. Volcanics ai'e also present in association with Cerro de la Calavera east of the project property. Based on investigation of lagoon shore sites at Batiquitos Lagoon, Cheever and Eighmey (1991) proposed a model for change in subsistence strategies through 9,000 years of prehistory. This model proposes the existence of four periods of prehistory, which are characterized as "a transition from more regular and long-term occupation of the lagoon shore and terraces during the early period to a more transitory, limited, or specific use pattern during the late period" (Cheever and Eighmey 1991). Use of this model in the interpretation of resources located within the Calavera Hills project area necessitates the recovery of sufficient artifacts and faunal remains to identify intensity of use, subsistence strategy, and temporal placement for the sites. Cultural Setting The cultural resources that are abundant in the vicinity of the Calavera Hills and College Boulevard/Cannon Road alignments are believed to be present because of the availability of numerous natural resources and the landform, or overall setting. From the prehistoric period to the early historic period of San Diego County, aboriginal and eai'ly historic period, settlement locations were chosen based on the availabihty of water (Agua Hedionda Creek and tributary drainages), hunted and gathered foods (game animals and plants), and raw material for the manufacture of stone tools (metavolcanics and granite). During the historic period, settlement themes include farming and grazing lands (early American farrnsteads) and transportation. Elements of each of these settlement themes were found in the vicinity of the study area through document studies and during the archaeological survey for this project. The following discussion of regional prehistory and history is provided as background to understanding the variety of cultural materials and activity patterns identified within and surrounding the study area. 1. Prehistory The earliest professional archaeological work conducted in San Diego County was done in the early 1900s by Malcolm J. Rogers, former director of the San Diego Museum of Man. Rogers conducted extensive field surveys throughout the county. One goal of his work was to identify cultures that were present prehistorically and to relate these culture patterns and chronologies with other known patterns for the southwestern United States. Rogers' interpretations of archaeological resource ai^eas led to the development of a model of prehistoric occupation of the coastal area which is still in use (although debated) today. The earliest occupants of San Diego County are represented in the archaeological record by the cultural pattern first described by Rogers as the "scraper-makers" and later as the San Dieguito (Rogers 1929, 1945, 1966). These people left behind a material culture typified by large stone tools such as scrapers and scraper planes, choppers, points, and knives. These stone tools exhibit both a refined workmanship and raw material selectivity. Many San Dieguito sites are visible as surface remains or as shallow archaeological deposits. These sites are usually located inland, on small knoll tops, and ridge fingers, overlooking watercourses. Rogers proposed that these early hunters existed in San Diego County until 7,000-8,000 years before the present (B.P.). Rogers postulated that an environmental change occurred which caused a change in the regional subsistence pattern from a hunting economy to a gathering economy (centered on lagoon shellfish). Rogers called this pattern the La JoUa complex. The La JoUa complex tool assemblage varies from that of the San Dieguito in several ways. Artifacts that are representative of the La JoUa complex include metates, manos, hammerstones, teshoa flakes (lai-ge primaiy flakes), and split cobble unflaked tools. In contrast with the San Dieguito tool industry, the La JoUa complex was proposed to lack sophisticated flaking technology and instead depended on a ground stone milling technology. The La JoUa pattern, also known as the Early Milling period, continued until approximately A.D. 800-1000, when influences from desert cultures were introduced into San Diego County. The term Late Prehistoric refers to occupants of the county after circa 2,000 B.P. At the present time, there is considerable discussion concerning the relationship between the San Dieguito complex and the La JoUa complex. There is speculation that the lithic assemblage associated with the San Dieguito complex is contemporaneous with the La JoUa complex. Interpreted within a framework of seasonal food procurement, the San Dieguito hunting pattern (with associated hunting-related tools) and the La JoUa shellfish and plant processing pattern (associated ground and crushed stone tools) could be patterns associated with discrete ecological and geographical subsistence patterns. Thus, the La JoUa pattern and the San Dieguito pattern may reflect changes in tool kits required for coastal and inland camps, and not, as some propose, two separate cultures ergo, two separate peoples. Artifacts typical of the Late Prehistoric period were influenced by the desert cultures. Distinctive artifacts include side-notched arrow points and ceramics. These items were not present during previous periods, and their presence at an archaeological site is diagnostic of cultural affiliation. The Late Prehistoric period subsistence pattern was dependent on acorn processing. The result was a shift to a more sedentary subsistence pattern, which was in existence when the Spanish arrived in the 1700s. 2. History San Diego, west of the Peninsular Range, was first settled by Spanish colonists in 1769. The major land use during the Spanish period (1769-1820) was cattle grazing. Missions were major population centers and mission cattle roamed freely over open range. During the Mexican period (1820-1848), the missions were secularized and their vast land holdings were broken up into private land grants or ranchos. Cattle grazing remained the major land use activity; however, the ranchos were the major population centers. The port of San Diego at present-day Old Town, developed as a small commercial center for the surrounding ranchos. After Mexico gained independence from Spain, the Agua Hedionda Rancho, which encompasses the Cantarini property, was granted in 1842 to Juan Maria Marron (Brackett 1951:38). The practice of utilizing open range for grazing cattle and sheep is typical of early San Diego County ranching well into the American period (CoUett and Wade 1991). During the American period, in addition to cattle and sheep ranches, a growing number of farms began to appear throughout San Diego County. Land grants were sometimes made available for sale and this was the case with the Agua Hedionda Rancho. In i860, the rancho, containing some 10,000 acres of good plow land (Brackett 1951:38), was purchased from Marron's heirs by Robert KeUy. The increasing population of the region during this period witnessed changes in the pattern of land use and development. A particular rural community cultural pattern was developing and existed in San Diego 10 County from approximately 1870 to 1930. These communities were composed of an aggregate of people who lived within well-defined geographic boundaries, shared common bonds, and cooperated to solve common problems (CoUett and Wade 1991). They Uved, not in small towns or villages, but on farmsteads tied together through a common school district, church, post office, and country store (Hector and Van Wormer 1986). Ranching and farming were the main occupation of residents in and around the project area during the late nineteenth and twentieth century. Among several ranches and farms in the vicinity of the project area, the largest was owned by the Kelly family. A portion of this holding was subsequently sold to the actor Leo Carrillo. Over the past decade large tracts of this formerly open land have been developed for business and residential projects. The result has been a dramatic change in perception of the region from a rural area to an urban one. Overall, this region of San Diego has been a focal point of human occupation for approximately 8,000 years. Descriptions of prehistoric use of the area are based on interpretations of the numerous archaeological sites that have been recorded and tested within the region. A number of patterns of resource exploitation and site formation have been proposed to explain variables of site location, site size, and content that have been identified in this area. Within a one-mile radius of the Calavera Hills and College Boulevard/Cannon Road study area, there are 97 cultural resource sites and isolates of different-descriptions, which have been recorded during various investigations of the region. One advantage to conducting cultural resource surveys on parcels located within or near such well- documented areas is the opportunity afforded to move beyond a catalog of resource locations and toward explanations of human behavior as evidenced in the archaeological record. The following research design identifies one possible pattern of prehistoric land use behavior in the region and proposes a predictive model of regional site distribution as a means of evaluating the hypothesized pattern. Research Design The region encompassing the project area has been the subject of intensive archaeological investigation over the past 23 or more years. Recorded investigations include pedestrian surveys, significance evaluations to characterize some of the identified cultural resource sites, and data recovery excavations. The majority of this work has resulted in the discovery, recording, and assessment of sites located on the uplands, slopes, and drainages flanking Agua Hedionda Creek, west of Los Manos Canyon and Mount Hinton. One result of these investigations has been that fewer sites have been identified on the upland ridges and slopes of the region than have been identified among the large 11 drainages. The reasons for this distribution of sites may be due to one or more factors that may reflect patterns of prehistoric cultural activity in the region. These include the accessibility of these areas, selectivity on the part of occupying groups, or the varied availability of resources. It is possible that the larger drainage of Agua Hedionda Creek afforded easier access to important resources associated with the creeks that drain the upland areas to the east, north, and south. Additionally, the areas near the mouths of these drainages may have yielded greater varieties and/or quantities of food and utiUtarian resources. The presence of exposed sources of suitable stone for stone tool manufacture that occur along the bases of ridges and slopes and are renewed by erosion of the slopes and stream deposits, may also account for some of the human settlement along the larger drainages. The current study seeks to determine the patterns of regional land use through the identification of site distribution patterns. To accomplish this, it is necessary to summarize the data on record for the region, to supplement this with new information from the cun-ent study, and to compare the results of the various investigations to develop patterns of land use. The basic model is that tribal groups camped at habitation areas (residential bases) situated along the large or primary drainages in a region. Smaller foraging or gathering parties set-off on short-term, resource-specific forays along side or secondary drainage courses and created resource collection sites (locations). Archaeologically, resource collection sites should appear as small collections of artifacts associated with resource collection and processing with limited indications of occupation. Occupation debris appropriate to these situations is anticipated to consist of bone or marine shell in small quantities and a relatively small collection of flakes. These short- term camps should not demonstrate evidence of house pits, roasting pits, or similar features. Longer term occupation areas are anticipated to include these same archaeologically expressed elements in greater quantity, as well as bedrock milling features, house pits, roasting pits, rock art, and increased quantities of subsistence debris and artifacts. The relationships between the resource locales would be identified through material culture remains, temporal associations, or recognized patterns of site distribution. The characteristics of topography and the proximity and availability of resources in the region are seen as composing optimal conditions for occupation locations. Given these conditions, there is a high potential for prehistoric or historic-era site locations to be present within the study area. A predictive model based on the details of sites associated with Agua Hedionda Creek and the upland areas overlooking it was developed for the current investigation. The factors considered in the model include aspect, on-site vegetation, proximity to water, and landform. The current condition of areas being surveyed, such as alterations resulting from agriculture, were considered as effects on ground surface visibility and not as limiting the potential for resources to be present. 12 Information obtained through the record searches conducted at the South Coastal Information Center (SCIC) and the San Diego Museum of Man (SDMM) were used to develop the predictive model. Ninety-seven previously recorded site areas are included in this data set. The types of sites in the modeling area are predominantly camps occupied for short to moderate duration. These contain evidence of food consumption, usually in the form of marine shellfish remains, some fire-affected rock, debris associated with unspecialized tool maintenance or creation, and in some cases the limited presence of bedrock milling features. There are two large sites that might represent locations of longer or larger occupation. Ten of the recorded locations are cultural isolates. This means that fewer than three individual artifacts were located and as such these do not qualify as archaeological sites. One recorded site has an historic component, which has been dated to the mid-1930s. In applying the predictive model to the study area the nature of the archaeological sites likely to be present are small or short duration camps. The predictive model is based on the data from 97 recorded sites in the modeling area. In reviewing the summary information it is apparent that the highest potential for archaeological sites is on south-facing slopes or ridge fingers covered with native vegetation and within one-half kilometer of a water source. In general, these conditions are found in the southern portion of the Master Plan area. The availability of water, access to seed-producing plants, and available rock resources for tools and food processing are estimated to have been higher in these areas than in the adjacent areas. The sites in the model fall within three distance ranges from water sources. These include sites within one-half kilometer, between one-half and one kilometer, or greater than one kilometer from water. The majority of the sites recorded in the modeling area are within one-half kilometer of a water source. Only a small portion of the study area is greater than one kilometer from a water source. Because of this there is a limited potential for resources to be. present in areas distant from water. Roughly the same number of resources is found between one-half and one kilometer from water. Much more of the study area is included in this range, but the potential remains low compared to areas within one-half kilometer of water. The occurrence of sites associated with native landscape and vegetation is greater than those recorded under disturbed conditions. The number of sites recorded in native vegetation is 25 percent greater than those identified in disturbed areas. Initially, it would appear that the greatest opportunity to locate sites would be in areas of native brush. However, when the kind of vegetation cover is considered, the potential to discover sites decreases on the project property because much of the native cover is wetland. The remaining ai'eas of native plant cover include aspects or exposure that have a lower incidence of site presence. The majority of sites in the modeling area occur on south- facing slopes. 13 The topographic features within the modeling area also affect the presence of archaeological sites and isolates. Most of the sites are described on slopes or on ridge fingers. The five other landform settings have yielded indications of cultural activity, which taken as a group do not equal the number of sites on either ridge fingers or slopes individually. Under these conditions the likeUhood of identifying cultural resources in drainage bottoms, saddles, hilltops, valley floors, or drainage heads is considered very low. The highest potential for finding resource locations is on the slopes and ridge fingers. The current study covers a large area of land that has been previously surveyed and is surrounded by even larger acreage that has also been investigated. The results of the current study alone would not be sufficient to evaluate the usefulness of the predictive model in evaluating the prehistoric land use pattern hypothesis. However, two mutually important requirements are met by the study and the predictive model. One is that the predictive model identifies areas of greater and lesser potential to yield cultural resource locations within the study area. The other is that the current study fills in data gaps that would weaken conclusions drawn from regional data used to support the hypothesis. The model is used to guide the investigation and enhance its effectiveness. Data gathered from the investigation is supplemental to the data already on record and may provide temporal indications of activity, which can be used to elucidate change in settlement over time. Methods A. Research Procedures Archaeological record searches for the proposed project were requested from the South Coastal Information Center and the San Diego Museum of Man. Compiled aichival information includes known sites and isolates within the search area as well as a review of historic maps and landmark lists. The scope of the searches was limited to the proposed Master Plan Phase II project area, the College Boulevard/Cannon Road aUgnments and a radius of one mile surrounding them. Additional documentary research was conducted at the County of San Diego Office of Survey Records by RECON staff and focused on circa 1928 aerial photographs of the project area and the immediate surroundings. B. Field Survey Procedures The goal of the pedestrian survey was to verify the reported contents of the study area. The entire study area was reviewed or directly inspected during the field reconnaissance effort. Surface visibility tended to be excellent to poor. Areas of poor visibility were 14 spot checked in areas likely to retain evidence of cultural activity. Adjustments were made to the methods that were used to best respond to the variable conditions. Report of Findings A. Record Search Results Archaeological record searches were conducted through the South Coastal Information Center and the San Diego Museum of Man. The cover letters from these investigations are included as Attachment 1 of this report. The results of the record searches indicate that six previously recorded cultural resource sites and one cultural isolate are located within the Calavera Hills Master Plan Phase II area. Another 14 sites are recorded within the Bridge and Thoroughfare District No. 4, which includes the proposed alignments and alternatives for College Boulevard and Cannon Road. The record searches indicate that a total of 97 archaeological sites and cultural isolates are recorded within a one-mile radius of the proposed projects. These sites were recorded during prior cultural resource studies. The South Coastal Information Center record search included a review of the following listings: The National Register of Historic Places for San Diego County, the listing of historical landmarks designated by the San Diego Historical Site Board, the Office of Historic Preservation Directory of Properties in the Historic Property Data File for San Diego County, and the Official Landmarks (San Diego County Sites of Historic Significance). There are no Usted properties within a one-mile radius of the subject property. B. Archival Search Results A review of historic maps and aerial photographs was conducted at the San Diego County Office of Survey Records. The historic maps reveal a single building at the approximate location of the Robertson ranch complex (U.S. Geological Survey 1898, San Luis Rey Quad). Aerial photographs of the project area taken in 1928 were also reviewed inspected. Review of these images revealed farming and ranching activity during the historic era within the Bridge and Thoroughfare District No. 4 and also within the Phase II Master Plan area. The activity in the Master Plan area (Aerial Photograph 1928:30E6) is limited to cleared fields and orchards that no longer exist or have been left fallow for an extended period. These do not wan-ant additional research or documentation as their primary indications are from the documentary record. 15 Activities within the Bridge and Thoroughfare District No. 4 include cleared fields, orchards, and buildings. The fields and orchards are not considered important resources and are already represented in the documentary record. No addition research is recommended for the fields and orchards identified within the Bridge and Thoroughfare District No. 4. The buildings identified in the aerial photographs include a complex of buildings, pens, and structures (Aerial Photograph 1928:30E6) identified as the Robertson ranch complex. There is also a house situated in the Reach 4 aUgnment of Cannon Road (Aerial Photograph 1928:30E6 and 30F5). The site record search indicates that a scatter of glass, ironstone, and cement fragments was identified in the approximate location in July of 1999. C. Pedestrian Field Check Results The pedestrian field check was conducted on January 11 and 13, 2000, by RECON archaeologists under the supervision of Dayle Cheever, RPA. A total of 24 person-hours were spent in the field. The entire study area was reviewed or directly inspected during the field check effort. Ground surface visibility was 100 percent in recently tilled areas grading into 50 to 70 percent surface visibility along road and field margins. Elsewhere the visibility was 10 percent or less due to vegetation cover. Portions of the study area are wetlands and support a thick growth of riparian species. Other portions of the study area support equally impenetrable stands of native vegetation communities. The topography across much of the study area has been influenced by the runoff pattern into the adjoining creeks. A series of ridges and saddles has formed over time. The ridges are perpendicular to the stream courses. Saddles have formed where the ridges diverge, or along the ridges where the side slopes have also been eroded. The introduction of agriculture has altered some of the study area by blending it into a rolUng landscape of tilled fields. This differs from areas, which are occupied and used as farms, ranches, and golf courses. In these locations, the alteration of the landscape has been more dramatic. Outcrops of granite boulders are present, but spot inspection revealed them to generally have a surface texture inconsistent with the type of granite commonly seen on outcrops selected for milling. Specific outcrops of material suited for miUing activity are present within the study area and ai-e documented among those sites that include bedrock milling features among their site components. The drainages in the southern portion of the Master Plan Phase II area and the College Boulevard/Cannon Road alignments are overgrown and impassable. Standing water is also present in many of the areas where attempts to penetrate were made. Surface visibility is also absent in these areas, due to the dense vegetation. Each recorded resource within the study area was sought out during the field inspection. The site records 1.6 for the documented resources were used to facilitate site relocation. Observations of the current condition were compared to the site records to highUght changes that have occurred. Variations in the density of vegetation and an increase in litter constituted the only discernable changes among the recorded sites. 1. Calavera Hills Master Plan Phase II The field review of three of the previously recorded sites in the Master Plan Phase II area was conducted to ascertain their current condition. CA-SDI-5436 is recorded as a scatter of marine shell remains and lithic tool waste. CA-SDI-5438 is recorded as consisting of a rock cairn within a drainage. CA-SDI-5439 is identified as a scatter of marine shell with no artifacts. Each site location was accessible, but the reported site constituents were not relocated. This is somewhat unusual in the case of marine shell scatters, which are typically visible in contrast to the surrounding ground surface, even where grass and brush cover are heavy. Relocation efforts included pressing brush and grass cover aside to expose areas of ground surface, as well as examining open areas in and adjacent to the recorded locations of these sites. There was no surface evidence of any of these locations identified during the survey. It is possible that the number of artifacts, site size, and distribution of marine shell fragments at CA-SDI-5436 and -5439 were small and contributed to their disappearance over time. The lithic tool debris reported for CA-SDI-5436 was also not relocated. The lack of identifiable surface scatter suggests that the level of cultural activity at these locations was very low and that efforts to evaluate them using traditional sample units would be less informative than alternative means such as surface scrapes and shovel test probes. The rock cairn identified as CA-SDI-5438 was not relocated, but the site description and recorded location place it within a drainage with steeply sloping margins dominated by bedrock outcrops. The possibility that CA-SDI-5438 was a natural feature that was misinterpreted was considered when inspecting the area and evaluating the level of assessment necessary. 2. Bridge and Thoroughfare District No. 4 Extension of College Boulevard and Cannon Road and Detention Basins The field review of the previously recorded sites in the College Boulevard/Cannon Road alignment alternatives was conducted to ascertain their current condition. The sites and their recorded attributes are summarized by ahgnment in Table 1. 17 The Robertson ranch complex of buildings (Photographs 1 through 3) are considered a historic resource. An additional cluster of buildings located approximately 100 meters east of the Robertson house (Photograph 4) were constructed within the past 20 years and do not qualify as historic structures. A review of historic maps reveals a building in the approximate location of the Robertson house complex on the 1898 Escondido 15 minute quadrangle. A house location identified in the 1928 aerial photographs could not be relocated in the field. It is within the approximate aUgnment of Rfeach 4 of Cannon Road. There is a prehistoric site recorded within the alignment in approximately the same location. This site is reported to have a historic component that may be refuse associated with the house shown in the photograph (Aerial Photograph 1928:30F5). None of the historic-era materials were identified during the field inspection; however, the miUing feature was relocated. Discussion/Interpretation A. Calavera Hills Master Plan Phase II Development of the Master Plan areas will not adversely impact any significant cultural resource site or feature. Of the six previously recorded sites and one isolate (CA-SDI- 635, -5436, -5437, -5438, -5439, -12,470, and -12,471) within the Master Plan Phase II area, CA-SDI-635, -12,470, and -12,471 were evaluated (Gallegos 1991; Wade 1992) and determined to be not important under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and not significant under the Cultural Resource Guidelines (CRG) of the City of Carlsbad. Additionally, CA-SDI-5437 is recorded as an isolated artifact consisting of a single flake and as such requires no additional evaluation under CEQA or the CRG. CA-SDI-5438 and -5439 are located within areas of proposed open space and a wildlife corridor. The potential for direct impacts to these sites is low and would only result from alterations to the existing access roadways adjacent to the recorded locations. Since neither of these sites is visible, the potential for casual and illicit collection of artifacts from the sites is low. Additionally, the amount, type, and variety of cultural materials are reportedly limited and would therefore not be Ukely to meet the criteria for importance/significance under CEQA and the CRG. The six sites and one isolate located within the Master Plan area have been either previously determined to be not significant under CEQA or are located within areas proposed for permanent open space and will not be adversely affected by the proposed development. The proposed development associated with the Master Plan ai-ea will not impact any significant cultural resources. 18 r 0 PHOTOGRAPH 1 View Looking North to the Robinson House Complex (Photograph Courtesy of Planning Systems) R-3225A PHOTOGRAPH 2 Front View of the Robinson House (Photograph Courtesy of Planning Associates) PHOTOGRAPH 3 Rear View of the Robinson House (Photograph Courtesy of Planning Systems) 0 R-3225A PHOTOGRAPH 4 View of the Complex of Recent Outbuildings East of the Robinson House (Photograph Courtesy of Planning Associates) B. Bridge and Thoroughfare District No. 4 Extension of College Boulevard and Cannon Road and Detention Basins Because it is not known which ahgnment will be selected, all of the 14 sites located within the various aUgnments are discussed below. When a specific aUgnment is selected, detailed mitigation will be proposed for the sites located in that alignment. As stated earUer, a total of 14 sites and one isolate are recorded within the proposed alignments and alternatives. A summary of these sites is provided in Table 1. One of the 14 sites (CA-SDI-12,470) was evaluated for importance (Wade 1992) and determined to be not important under CEQA and not significant under the CRG of the City of Carlsbad. CA-SDI-018284, an isolate, does not meet the criteria of importance/significance and requires no additional attention. The remaining 12 sites will require completion of some form of significance assessments in order to comply with the CRG and with CEQA, if they fall within a selected alignment. Until an alternative alignment is selected and the affected sites have been evaluated for significance, the proposed project is presumed to potentially have a significant impact on cultural resources. Management Considerations A. Calavera Hills Master Plan Phase II Development of the Master Plan will not adversely impact any significant cultural resource site or feature. No mitigation is necessary. B. Bridge and Thoroughfare District No. 4 Extension of College Boulevard and Cannon Road and Detention Basins To accomplish the necessary significance assessments, a field investigation is recommended to determine if any of the 12 sites meet the criteria for importance under CEQA and significance under the CRG. Evaluation would seek to determine the age, cultural affiUation, function, size, integrity, and structure of these sites. It is necessary to determine if these sites contain archaeological data that can be applied to understanding important regional research issues. Each site should be accurately mapped to document its location. Information should also be gathered about any internal constituents and disturbance. Recovered cultural material should be analyzed and a summary report for 21 the sites prepared and submitted to the chent, SCIC, and SDMM. The summary report should document the significance assessment investigations, present discussions and supporting data concerning the site's ability to address applicable research issues, and make recommendations for future treatment and impact mitigation. Updates to the site records should also be completed and submitted to the SCIC and the SDMM. The tasks proposed for each site are specific to the conditions and reported content of each resource as follows. Specifically, sites composed of only marine shell or marine shell and Uthic artifacts (see Table 1) should be tested with as many as 50 square meters of surface scrapes to identify possible concentrations of site material. No more than 20 subsurface test probes should be completed in order to ensure adequate sampling of the site matrix and to determine the presence or absence of a subsurface deposit. If a subsurface deposit is identified, up to three Ix 1-meter sample units should be excavated to obtain controlled data for evaluation. The number of sample units, shovel test pits, and scrapes would be subject to the condition and size of each site. For sites that include bedrock milling features (see Table 1), all of the features should be drawn to scale and photographed. The data collected for the bedrock milling should be included in site record updates and submitted to the SCIC and the SDMM. The proximity of the road alignment to the Robertson ranch complex necessitates the recommendation of an archaeological monitor during brushing and grading. The monitor will be present to identify any buried features such as privies or structural elements, which may have been obscured over time. A brief letter report should be prepared upon completion of monitoring detailing the methods and findings, as appropriate. If a significant discoveiy is made during monitoring a salvage program should be completed. References Aerial Photographs 1928 Aerial photograph series for San Diego County. Photographs 30E6 and 30F5. On file at the San Diego County Office of Survey Records. Brackett, R. W. 1951 The History of San Diego County Ranchos. Union Title Insurance and Trust Company, San Diego. Cheever, Dayle M. and Russell O. CoUett 1999 Cultural Resource Phase I Survey of the Mandana Property, City of Carlsbad, California. RECON, San Diego. 99 Cheever, Dayle M. and James D. Eighmey 1991 Data Recovery at SDI-6753 and 6819: Aviara Development Project, Carlsbad, CaUfornia. RECON, San Diego. CoUett, Russell O. and Dayle M. Cheever 1998 Cultural Resource Survey of the Cantarini Ranch Property and Adjacent Portions of the Neighboring Lands Including a Proposed College Boulevard Alignment, City of Carlsbad, California. RECON, San Diego. CoUett, RusseU O., and Sue A. Wade 1991 Cultural Resource Survey and Significance Testing of Site SDI-12,122H Sorrento Hills Phase I Cultural Development Area, City of San Diego, CaUfornia. RECON, San Diego. Corum, Joyce 1993 Negative Archaeological Survey Report ll-SD-76, P.M.RO.0/R2.9 11222- 159021, San Diego County-Agua Hedionda Creek Drainage. Unpublished manuscript on file at the South Coastal Information Center. San Diego. Gallegos, Dennis 1991 Testing and Data Recovery for Late Period Occupation Sites CA-SDI-635 and CA-SDI-636 - Calavera Heights. UnpubUshed report on file at the South Coastal Information Center. San Diego. Hector, Susan M. 1985 An Archaeological History of Robertson Ranch, Carlsbad. RECON, San Diego. Hector, Susan M., and Stephen R. Van Wormer 1986 Broken Fragments of Past Lifeways: Archaeological Excavations at Los Penasquitos Ranch House. 2 vols. RECON, San Diego. RECON 1976 Preliminary Draft Environmental Impact Information for Lake Calavera Hills Units I-IV. RECON, San Diego. Rogers, Malcolm J. 1929 The Stone Age of San Dieguito Plateau. American Anthropologist 31:454-467. 1945 An Outline of Yuman Prehistory. Southwestern Journal of Antliropology 1(2):167-198. 1966 Ancient Hunters of the Far West. San Diego Union-Tribune Publishing Company. 23 U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) 1898 Thirty-Minute San Luis Rey Quad. On file at the San Diego County Office of Survey Records, RECON, and the South Coastal Information Center. Wade, Sue A. 1992 Archaeological Evaluations at Calavera. Hills SDI-5416, Archaeological Testing at SDI-12470, SDI-12471, Carisbad. RECON, San Diego. 24 ATTACHMENT 1 Record Search Results Cover Letters South Coastal Information Center D C P F 1 \/ Fll Social Science Research Laboratory 1% d Vj C 1 V LI/ ian Diego State University College of Arts and Letters 5500 Campanile Drive i»ti 1 Q onWI San Diego.CA 92182-4537 JA" ' ^ 619-594-5682 , . FAX: 619-594- 1358 R E C O N CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL RESOURCES INFORMATION SYSTEM SITE FILES RECORD SEARCH Source of Request: Recon-Dayle M. Cheever, Senior Archaeologist Date of Request: January 4, 2000 Date Request Received: January 7, 2000 Project Identification: Calavera Hills Phase II (Recon # 3225A) Search Radius: One-Mile 0 The South Coastal Information Center historical files DO NOT show recorded prehistoric or historic site location(s) within the project boundaries, nor prehistoric site location(s) within the specified radius of the project area. (x) The South Coastal Information Center historical files DO show recorded prehistoric or historic site location(s) within the project boundaries and/or prehistoric site location(s) within the specified radius of the project area. Historical Site Location(s) check: PAF Date: January 14, 2000 Archaeological (CA-SDI) and Primary (P-37) site maps have been reviewed. All sites within the project boundaries and the specified radius of the project area have been plotted. Copies of the site record forms have been included for all recorded sites. Bibliographic Materials check: PAF Date: January 14, 2000 Project boundary maps have been reviewed. The bibliographic materials for reports within the project boundaries and within the specified radius of the project area have been included. Historic Map(s) check: PAF Date: January 14,2000 The historic maps on file at the South Coastal Information Center have been reviewed, and copies have been included. Historic Resources check: PAF Date: January 14,2000 If there are historic resources within your project boundaries, information from the National Register of Historic Properties, California Register, California State Landmarks, California Points of Historic Interest, and other historic property lists, has been included. A map generated from Geofinder, a historic database and mapping program, has been included. HOURS: 15_ COPIES: 142 RUSH: N This is not an Invoice. Please pay from the monthly Billing Statement. THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY • Bokersfield • Channel Islonds • Chico • Domingucz Hills • Fresno • Fullerton • Hayword • Humboldt . Long Beoch • los Angeles • Moritinte Acodemy. Monterey Boy • Northridge • Pomona • Socromento • Son Bernardino • Son Diego • Son f roncisco • Son Jose • Son Luis Obispo • Son Morcos • Sonoma • Stonislous