On behalf of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) conducted an intensive archeological survey on April 16–17, 2018, of a potential bridge replacement consisting of approximately 1.5 acres of existing right-of-way (ROW) along Farm-to-Market (FM) Road 1511 in Leon County, Texas. Because the project will receive funding from the Federal Highways Administration, it qualifies as an undertaking as defined in Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 800.16(y) and, therefore, the work was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S. Code 306108). Furthermore, the project must also comply with the Antiquities Code of Texas (9 Natural Resources Code 191). Jon Budd served as Principal Investigator under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 8365.
The total area of potential effects (APE) is defined as the existing 100-foot-wide FM 1511 ROW beginning 200 feet north of the Resaca Creek channel centerline and extending 500 feet south. According to typical design, the depth of impacts would be up to 20 feet below the current ground surface for the bridge supports and up to 6 feet below ground surface for the rest of the project. The total APE is approximately 1.5 acres.
Background research identified no archeological surveys, archeological sites, cemeteries, or known historic resources within a 0.6-mile (1-kilometer) radius review area. However, six potentially historic structures are identified on 1964 USGS topographic maps along FM 1511. None of the structures are located within or immediately adjacent to the project area.
The field investigation of the proposed project APE consisted of an intensive pedestrian survey with both shovel testing and mechanical backhoe trenching. The existing ROW is heavily disturbed by existing roadway, utilities, and prior bridge construction activities; in addition, the APE is almost entirely wetlands with standing water or shallow water table. The investigations identified no archeological resources within the APE. SWCA has made a reasonable and good faith effort to locate and identify historic properties as per 36 CFR Part 800.4(b)(1), and cultural resources as per Subchapter A of Chapter 26 of the Texas Administrative Code throughout the proposed project APE. Based on the results of the survey, SWCA recommends a finding of “no historic properties affected,” and no further archeological investigations are recommended within the APE
