Storing and moving water are essential for life and commerce. From the development of large reservoirs and associated hydroelectric facilities and pipelines to the expansion of existing regional water supply systems, Applied EarthWorks has worked closely with public agencies and private firms to identify cultural resources and manage them in ways that facilitate access to this vital commodity. During reservoir development, the company has undertaken extensive archival research, survey, evaluation, and data recovery efforts to document resources that would be submerged. For pipeline construction, Applied EarthWorks also has successfully employed buried site testing and predictive modeling studies to promote avoidance of resources when possible.
Representative Projects
METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ON-cALL cultURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and San Diego Counties, California
Since incorporating in 1995 and before as INFOTEC Research, Inc., Æ staff has assisted Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) with cultural resource management services during all phases of the design and development of the Eastside Reservoir Project (ESRP, now known as Diamond Valley Lake). In addition to the ESRP, Metropolitan has previously selected Æ, by competitive bid, to conduct cultural resource technical evaluation studies on a variety of projects, including Metropolitan’s Inland Feeder Project (1997–2008), Cadiz Water Storage and Dry-Year Supply Program (1999–2000), the Colorado River Aqueduct Historic Property Treatment Plan (2008), the Metropolitan Headquarters Project (1996–1997), San Diego 6 Pipeline (2004–June 2010), and Diemer Filtration Plant Improvements (2005–present). Recently, Æ staff has provided guidance on improvements being made at the historic Weymouth Filtration Plant in La Verne (2010–present).
In 1999, 2004, 2008, and again in 2011, Æ was selected to provide Metropolitan with cultural resources services for on-call Task Orders throughout Metropolitan’s service area. More than 70 Task Orders have been issued, for a total of $3,800,801. These projects have afforded Æ senior staff an intimate knowledge of cultural resources issues, requiring close coordination and consultation with a variety of agencies (e.g., U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Federal Highways Administration, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and California Public Utility Commission, the Office of Historic Preservation, and the Native American Heritage Commission, as well as many Native American groups) within Metropolitan’s service area. All levels of project documentation have been prepared under this contract including, but not limited to, Phase I survey reports, Phase II testing programs, Phase III Data Recovery, data recovery plans, EIR/EISs and monitoring plans, and reports.
Key Services
Environmental Impact Consultation (CEQA / NEPA)
Predictive Modeling / Buried Site Testing
Testing and Evaluation for National Register Eligibility
Data-Recovery Excavation
Construction Monitoring and Emergency Archaeology
Laboratory Processing and Data Analysis
Coordination with State and Federal Regulatory Agencies
Historic Properties Treatment Planning
Native American Consultation and Coordination
Coachella Valley water district ON-CALL CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Riverside and Imperial Counties, California
Since 2005, Æ has provided the Coachella Valley Water District with focused cultural resource technical evaluation services on an on-call basis. Task orders have been issued for work throughout Coachella Valley Water District’s service area in Riverside and Imperial counties. To date, Æ has completed over 40 tasks under their on-call cultural resource contracts. This includes multiple Phase I surveys in support of installation or improvements to domestic water wells and sewer line installations (including lift stations), buried site testing along Airport Boulevard for a pipeline project, emergency data-recovery investigations for a groundwater recharge project, and a geophysical investigation (magnetic gradient survey) for a domestic water and sewer project. All task orders were completed on time and within budget.
For these projects, Æ performed records and literature searches; archival research; pedestrian surveys; construction monitoring and emergency archaeological mitigation; collection management; site recordation; testing and evaluation for National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) eligibility; coordination with local and federal agencies; preparation of Area of Potential Effects (APE) maps; and Native American coordination and consultation. Agency involvement has included the California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP), Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Indian Health Services (IHS), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Æ recently transferred custody of archaeological collections recovered from the Dike 4 Groundwater Recharge Facilities Project at Site CA-RIV-7398 to the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians for permanent residency. The collection consists of three boxes of artifacts and human remains, and eight boxes of sediments, including ceramics.
Key Services
Environmental Impact Consultation (CEQA / NEPA)
Coordination with State and Federal Regulatory Agencies
Historic Properties Treatment Planning
Native American Consultation and Coordination
Archaeological Field Surveys
Testing and Evaluation for National Register Eligibility
Geomorphology and Geoarchaeology
Data-Recovery Excavation
Construction Monitoring and Emergency Archaeology
Laboratory Processing and Data Analysis
Collections Management
Interpretive and Educational Programs
COASTAL BRANCH AQUEDUCT
Central Coast Water Authority
Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, California
The need to distribute water from the California Aqueduct to the Central Coast region accelerated construction plans for Phase II of the Coastal Aqueduct. Responding to the Central Coast Water Authority’s challenge to devise a plan to consolidate cultural resource studies to fit within construction schedules, Æ organized and implemented surveys, testing and evaluation, and a construction monitoring program for this project.
A flexible field work plan was developed in conjunction with construction managers, engineers, and field construction crews. This plan was crucial for successful collaboration with the project design team to ensure completion of required work and proper implementation of mitigation requirements. Timely and effective coordination with numerous agencies—the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Air Force, State Historic Preservation Office, and local Native American groups—was critical in meeting construction deadlines, as was Æ’s creation of streamlined procedures for reporting and agency review.
The construction schedule often mandated that Æ mobilize multiple crews to perform field work simultaneously at several locations. The company’s experienced, knowledgeable work force was able to meet these demands and provide specialists exactly when needed. Our managers also promoted proactive communications and problem solving among the staff.
Key Services
Coordination with State and Federal Regulatory Agencies
Historic Properties Treatment Planning
Native American Consultation and Coordination
Archaeological Field Surveys
Testing and Evaluation for National Register Eligibility
Data-Recovery Excavation and Mitigation
Geomorphology and Geoarchaeology
Construction Monitoring and Emergency Archaeology
Laboratory Processing and Data Analysis
Collections Management
Cultural resource services for local water districts
Fresno Irrigation District • Patterson Irrigation District • Firebaugh Canal Water District • Central California Water District • Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District • Tulare Irrigation District • San Luis Canal Company • Stevinson Water District • Panoche Water District • Kern Delta Water District • Arvin-Edison Water Storage District • Kern Tulare Water District
Since 2006, Æ has provided the full spectrum of cultural resource management services covering both prehistoric and historical archaeological sites and built environment resources to multiple local water conveyance agencies in the central and southern San Joaquin Valley. These projects have been conducted in support of new reservoir and pipeline construction, water banks, ditch and canal relining, system upgrades, habitat restoration, and other projects. Archaeological studies have included archival, field, and laboratory research; geoarchaeological analysis; Native American consultation; survey and resource inventory; testing to evaluate national/state register eligibility; assessing project effects; data recovery mitigation excavations; and construction monitoring.
Most significant is our extensive experience with the local, state, and national significance of water conveyance systems. Over the past several years in support of these projects, we have prepared California and National Register recommendations for multiple historic waterways including the:
Patterson Lift Irrigation System
Arvin-Edison Canal System
Gould Canal
Siphon Ditch
Pick Anderson Bypass
Salt Slough Ditch
County Road Ditch
Belmont Drain
Willis Branch
East Side Canal
Poso Canal and Slough
Amaral Ditch
Marshall Road Drain
Spanish Land Grant Drain
Æ has also evaluated the complete systems of the Firebaugh Canal Water District, James Irrigation District, and Madera Irrigation District. The projects have required close consultation and coordination with local Native American tribes, county planners, and district representatives as well as with agency technical specialists from the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Water Resources, and the Office of Historic Preservation.