In December 2015, Vickrey & Associates, Inc. (Client) contracted with Raba Kistner Environmental, Inc. (RKEI), to perform an intensive pedestrian survey for a proposed 3.2 mile hike and bike trail along Salado Creek near San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The proposed trail is an extension of the existing South Salado Creek Greenway Trail which was installed in 2008. The project is owned by the City of San Antonio. Since the project area is currently owned by a political subdivision of the state, the project falls under the Antiquities Code of Texas as administered by the Texas Historical Commission (THC). The purpose of the survey was to determine whether historic or prehistoric cultural resources are located within the Area of Potential Effect (APE), and, if so, assess their significance and eligibility for designation as State Antiquities Landmarks (SALs) and for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The project was carried out in early January 2016 under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 7516. Dr. Steve A. Tomka served as Principal Investigator. Kristi Nichols served as the Project Archaeologist, and Mark Luzmoor served as field technician.
Several circumstances delayed the completion of the survey. Construction activities for a new apartment complex hindered the survey along the northern portion. During the survey, it was noted that the trail was to be placed on portions of an already laid cart path from the Pecan Valley Golf Club that was in this area from 1963-2012. Furthermore, because the golf course had fill brought in to build up the fairways and greens, no shovel tests or backhoe trenches were placed in these areas. Right-of-Entry issues also delayed progress within the golf course as well. Weather also postponed the survey due to wet and muddy conditions.
One backhoe trench (BHT) and 19 shovel tests (STs) were excavated within the APE. Surface visibility was around 90 percent throughout the APE. No buried or surface-exposed historic or prehistoric materials were encountered during the survey. All documents collected during the course of the project were returned to the RKEI Archaeological Laboratory for processing. All project related documents, are permanently housed at the RKEI Laboratory. No cultural material was collected over the course of the project
