Lueders Water System Improvements Jones County, Texas

The City of Lueders, TX is proposing to make improvements to its water system in Jones County, TX. The project includes construction of an approximately 900 m long waterline south of town running from Cox Street to CR207/204. The pipeline bores under the Clear Fork of the Brazos River 450 m upstream from the Lake Penick dam. Jacob & Martin, LTD, which is designing the pipeline route, contracted with AR Consultants, Inc. to conduct a pedestrian survey of the route. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if significant cultural resources were present in the proposed project area. Site 41JS136 (formerly 41JS75), is a surficial scatter of prehistoric artifacts eroding out of the terrace overlooking the Clear Fork and site 41JS135 is the remains of a historic lake and associated features. Neither site is receiving a formal recommendation for NRHP or SAL. No evidence of the prehistoric site was found in the proposed route, and one of the levees for the historic lake will be avoided by directionally drilling under it. The portion of the route through 41JS136 (formerly 41JS75) is considered ineligible. No other cultural resources were identified during the survey of the remainder of pipeline route. Based on the results of the survey, AR Consultants, Inc. concludes that further cultural resource investigations for this project area are unwarranted, and requests that the THC concur with this recommendation. No artifacts were collected during the survey, and all paperwork will be curated with the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University. However, if buried cultural materials are discovered during construction or the route changes, the Archeology Division of the THC and the Fort Worth District of the USACE should be notified

Champions Drive Outfall Harris County, Texas

Harris County is planning the Champions Drive Outfall project in the north central part of the county. The proposed outfall will replace existing outfalls in the south bank of Cypress Creek in a piece of land previously developed for the road between the creek and where the pavement ends at the northern terminus of Champions Drive. This area is approximately 100 meters long by 20 meters wide and consists of 0.48 acres. Halff Associates, Inc., which is handling the project’s environmental permitting, and contracted with AR Consultants, Inc. to conduct survey of the project area. AR Consultants, Inc. recommended survey of the outfall area because of the prehistoric potential and numerous sites recorded in the immediate area along Cypress Creek. AR Consultants, Inc. recommended the excavation of a backhoe trench near the creek banks as well as a few shovel tests. Survey was conducted on December 11 and 12, 2017. Four shovel tests and two backhoe trenches were excavated. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if significant cultural resources were present in the proposed project area. No prehistoric cultural resources were identified in or below the surface in the survey area. Materials dating to the mid-20th century were found in the trenches, but this was all out of context construction fill likely from the late 1970s when the existing outfalls and road base was developed. Based on the results of the survey, ARC concludes that further cultural resource investigations for this project are unwarranted, and requests that the THC concur with this recommendation. However, if intact buried cultural materials are discovered during construction, the Archeology Division of the THC should be notified

Archaeological Investigation At The Witcher Property Within The Proposed Lower Bois D\u27Arc Creek Reservoir Fannin County, Texas

North Texas Municipal Water District is proposing to build the Lower Bois d’Arc Creek Reservoir, northeast of Bonham in Fannin County, Texas. In 2011 and 2013, AR Consultants, Inc. conducted an intensive pedestrian survey of 30 percent of the proposed reservoir footprint (Davis et al. 2014). During the 2013 survey, one of the proposed high potential archaeological survey areas, (Q), crossed private property owned by Harold “Thump” Witcher. At the time, Mr. Witcher denied a request for survey access and survey areas Q1 and Q2 replaced area Q. Since that time, Mr. Witcher identified the presence of archaeological sites on his property and they were recorded as 41FN176, 41FN177, 41FN178, and 41FN179. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provided this information to North Texas Municipal Water District, who in turn directed AR Consultants, Inc. to conduct an intensive pedestrian survey of Witcher’s property, since he was willing to grant access. The survey of the 156 acres was conducted between October and November of 2015 under Texas Antiquities Permit 7423. The locations of three previously recorded sites and three new sites (41FN244, 41FN245, and 41FN246) were documented during the systematic survey. Previously recorded site 41FN179 was not located and is not present in its previously reported locations. Therefore, the site could not be evaluated. No additional testing is recommended at sites 41FN245, and 41FN246. These sites have low artifact density in the plow zone with no evidence of organic preservation, intact features, or deeply buried undisturbed deposits. These sites are considered not eligible under Criterion A, B, C, or D of the NRHP or as SALs. Testing and research of the prehistoric components at sites 41FN176, 41FN177, 41FN178, and 41FN244 is warranted in order to determine their full vertical and horizontal extents as well as to assist in making NRHP determinations. Additional intensive shovel testing is necessary on the North Texas Municipal Water District property south of the Witcher property, to try and relocate site 41FN179. The survey demonstrated that prehistoric sites were present on the terrace edge, while the late 19th to mid-20th century historic sites were set further away from the edge. The artifacts recovered from the survey indicate Late Archaic through Middle Caddo Native American occupations. All project records will be curated at the Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory, while the artifacts will be returned to Mr. Witcher

Balding Pod 138kV Transmission Line Route-Ut Lands Portion

Oncor Electric Delivery Company, LLC is planning to construct the Balding POD 138-kV Transmission Line in Winkler County, Texas. Halff Associates, Inc, the routing consultant for Oncor, contracted with AR Consultants, Inc. to conduct an intensive pedestrian survey of the 370-m proposed transmission line route located on University of Texas School Lands. Survey was conducted on August 30, 2017. Four shovel tests were excavated and transects were walked within the 100-ft survey corridor (2.7 acres); no cultural resources were identified in these shovel tests nor on the surface. Due to prior disturbances, poor integrity of context, eroded and shallow soils, and the absence of any identified cultural materials in the study area, the proposed project should have No Effect on any cultural resource sites meeting National Register of Historic Places eligibility requirements set forth in 36 CFR 60.4 – Criteria of Eligibility, nor any sites that merit designation as State Antiquities Landmarks, as outlined in 13 TAC 26.8, Criteria for Evaluating Archeological Sites. Therefore, no additional cultural resources investigations are recommended for this project. Geoarchaeological assessment revealed that the project area does not exhibit the necessary pedologic or geomorphic conditions for the burial and preservation of cultural deposits. Consequently, no geoarchaeological monitoring of transmission pole emplacement is recommended. However, should the proposed right-of-way alignment change through the addition of reroutes, additional archaeological survey may be necessary. Since no sites were identified, no artifact curation is required, while the paperwork will be curated with the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University in San Marcos

Lake Forest Boulevard Connector Project Denton County, Texas

The Town of Flower Mound is planning to construct 700-feet of road between two existing dead-end streets of Lake Forest Boulevard, located approximately 2 km to the northeast of Grapevine Lake in Denton County, Texas. A 100-foot-wide study corridor was surveyed for the project area. The 1.7-acre study areas was surveyed on August 16, 2017. All shovel tests were negative; however, a historic cistern/well feature was recorded as site 41DN604. The site is not associated with any other features or with any structures as demonstrated by historic maps and aerials dating back to 1918. The site is recommended as not eligible for listing on the NRHP or as an SAL. Field documents, photos, and other paperwork from this survey will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University. As such, AR Consultants, Inc. recommends that further cultural resource investigations are unwarranted and requests that that Texas Historical Commission concur with this assessment. However, if artifacts or other features are found during construction, work should stop immediately and the Archeology Division of the Texas Historical Commission should be notified before work resumes

Fort Worth Zoo Creek Drainage Improvements Project Tarrant County, Texas

The City of Fort Worth is proposing to construct storm drainage improvements along Zoo Creek in Tarrant County, Texas. The project area is located in the southern 10.5 acres of Forest Park in central Fort Worth. The parcel is bounded by Park Hill Drive (Dr) on the north, Sandage Avenue (Ave) on the west, McPherson Ave on the south, and McCart Ave on the east. South (S.) Forest Dr bisects the property. This project consists of the construction of a stormwater detention wall to help alleviate flooding in the area. There will be four main impact areas and portions of S. Forest Dr will be repaved. The deepest impacts will occur in the northern portion of the park where the detention wall will be built along the Park Hill Dr Bridge. The second impact area will be for the new sanitary sewer being rerouted along McCart Ave. The third is the replacement of a low water crossing culvert on S. Forest Dr near the central part of the parcel. The final impact will be for a stormwater outfall on Zoo Creek to be constructed on the south end of the park where the creek intersects McPherson Ave. A 30-meter area around all four impact areas was surveyed for a total of 1.72 acres. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if significant cultural resources are present in the proposed impact areas as part of the Section 106 process. The area had potential for both historic and prehistoric resources. Ten negative shovel tests were excavated throughout the survey areas. Two historic-age resources were recorded as archaeological sites and evaluated by an architectural historian. Site 41TR306 is a historic culvert on S. Forest Dr. This culvert will be replaced and is not recommended eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places or as a State Antiquities Landmark. Site 41TR307, is a park shelter over 50 meters outside the culvert’s direct impact area. The structure will not be impacted, but is recommended as eligible. No other cultural resources were identified on or below the surface during the survey. Based on the results of the survey, AR Consultants, Inc. concludes that further cultural resource investigations for this project are unwarranted, and requests that the Texas Historical Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concur with this recommendation. However, if buried cultural materials are discovered during construction, both agencies should be notified. Work should not resume until all coordination with agencies is completed. The project will be curated with the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University

Spring Creek Nature Area Collin County, Texas

Richardson Parks & Recreation Department is planning new trails and park features for the additional acreage the city recently acquired around the Spring Creek Nature Area in Richardson, Texas. The city acquired an additional 50 acres in the southwestern portion of Collin County. The parks department has plans to construct new trails and park facilities on the properties to connect to existing facilities. The overall property is bounded by Renner Road on the north, Plano Road on the east, and Routh Creek Parkway on the west. The additional properties were surveyed and a total of 46 shovel tests were excavated on January 10, 11, and 15, 2018 under Texas Antiquities Permit 8257. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if significant cultural resources are present in the newly acquired acreage. Site 41COL82 was an Early Archaic prehistoric artifact scatter recorded during the original survey in 1991, however, the site was not relocated and appears to have been destroyed or eroded away. The site is therefore not recommended eligible for NRHP or SAL listing. Site 41COL304 is the remains of a mid-20th century historic trash scatter and is not recommended eligible for NRHP or SAL listing given the surficial nature of the site and broadly diagnostic artifacts. No other cultural resources were identified on or below the surface during the survey. Based on the results of the survey, ARC concludes that further cultural resource investigations for this project are unwarranted, and requests that the THC concur with this recommendation. However, if buried cultural materials are discovered during construction, the Archeology Division of the THC should be notified. The project will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies, Texas State University, San Marcos

Eagle Mountain To Big Fossil Creek Diversion Tarrant, County, Texas

The City of Fort Worth is proposing to construct the Eagle Mountain to Big Fossil Diversion Pipeline in northern Tarrant County. Alan Plummer Associates, Inc. is handling the environmental permitting for the construction of the pipeline. AR Consultants, Inc. was contracted to conduct a cultural resource survey, which included archival research, to determine the presence of prehistoric and historic archaeological sites along the route and make recommendations about eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and State Antiquities Landmark (SAL) designation. Four survey areas were identified, totaling approximately 3.1 kilometers of the approximately 9-km-long route. The westernmost survey area of the pipeline crosses Dosier Creek on the northside of Boat Club Road. The central segment out of the four survey areas is parallel to Park Drive and was investigated due to the presence of structures shown on historic maps within the 100-foot survey corridor. The longest segment in the east is parallel an intermittent tributary flowing northeast into Big Fossil Creek, while the final survey area approaches Big Fossil Creek in its floodplain. Survey of the approximately 25 acres was conducted on January 09, 2018. One site, 41TR309, was recorded and represents the remains of a historic farmstead. The site is not recommended eligible for NRHP or SAL. No other cultural resources were identified on or below the surface during the survey. Based on the results of the survey, ARC concludes that further cultural resource investigations for this project are unwarranted, and requests that the Texas Historical Commission (THC) concur with this recommendation. However, if buried cultural materials are discovered during construction, the Archeology Division of the THC should be notified. The records will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University in San Marcos

Archeological Survey Of The Proposed Sanger Outfall Pipeline Denton County, Texas

The City of Sanger is proposing to construct the 3.06-kilometer-long Sanger Outfall Pipeline in Denton County, Texas. Alan Plummer Associates, Inc. contracted with AR Consultants, Inc. to survey a 100-foot-wide corridor along the proposed route. AR Consultants, Inc. hypothesized that there would be low potential for both prehistoric and historic cultural resources. These hypotheses were based on the location of the pipeline route in the narrow Ranger Branch floodplain and lack of mapped historic structures remaining in the project area. Fieldwork was conducted on May 31, 2018 under Texas Antiquities permit 8338, during which 19 shovel tests were excavated and a total of 11 acres were surveyed. No historic or prehistoric cultural resources were noted within the survey corridor. As such, AR Consultants, Inc. recommends that no further cultural resource investigations are necessary for this project, and requests that the Texas Historical Commission concur with this recommendation. Project documents will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies, Texas State University, San Marcos

Holocene global mean surface temperature, a multi-method reconstruction approach

An extensive new multi-proxy database of paleo-temperature time series (Temperature 12k) enables a more robust analysis of global mean surface temperature (GMST) and associated uncertainties than was previously available. We applied five different statistical methods to reconstruct the GMST of the past 12,000 years (Holocene). Each method used different approaches to averaging the globally distributed time series and to characterizing various sources of uncertainty, including proxy temperature, chronology and methodological choices. The results were aggregated to generate a multi-method ensemble of plausible GMST and latitudinal-zone temperature reconstructions with a realistic range of uncertainties. The warmest 200-year-long interval took place around 6500 years ago when GMST was 0.7 °C (0.3, 1.8) warmer than the 19 th Century (median, 5 th , 95 th percentiles). Following the Holocene global thermal maximum, GMST cooled at an average rate −0.08 °C per 1000 years (−0.24, −0.05). The multi-method ensembles and the code used to generate them highlight the utility of the Temperature 12k database, and they are now available for future use by studies aimed at understanding Holocene evolution of the Earth system