Article Title

Short Report on the Archeological Investigations for the City of Domino’s Proposed New Water Treatment Plant, Cass County, Texas

Authors

Josh Haefner

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

In May of 2015, on behalf of the Greater Texoma Utility Authority (GTUA) and the City of Domino (the City), Hicks & Company conducted an intensive archeological survey for the new wastewater treatment plant facility to be located just south of Farm-to-Market Road (FM) 3129, approximately 2,010 meters east of Domino in Cass County, Texas. The purpose of the proposed project is to upgrade current wastewater facilities, with the new treatment plant servicing up to 25,000 gallons of water per day as delivered by planned new sewer line. The City has received funding for the proposed project through a 2014 Texas Capital Fund Grant provided by the Texas Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Affairs for Infrastructure Improvements, necessitating compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT) and coordination with the Texas Historical Commission (THC). During initial review of the proposed project, the THC noted that the proposed project was located within a previously unsurveyed area with favorable conditions for past human habitation that warranted intensive archeological survey prior to construction (See Appendix A: letter Martin to Linendoll, March 11, 2015). Following this recommendation, Hicks & Company was contracted by GrantWorks, Incorporated, on behalf of the GTUA and the City, to continue coordination with the THC and conduct the archeological survey. The proposed project was coordinated THC under Antiquities Permit #7275.

Totaling approximately six field hours, investigations for the archeological survey were conducted on May 28, 2015 and consisted of a pedestrian survey of the entire project area, approximately 6.0 acres in size, supplemented with 13 shovel tests, all of which were negative for cultural materials. No artifactual materials greater than 50 years in age, features, or archeological sites were encountered during this investigation. Based on the results of the current survey, it is recommended that no archeological historic properties (36 CFR 800.16(1)) or State Antiquities Landmarks (SALs) (13 TAC 26.12) will be affected by the proposed project and no further archeological investigations are recommended prior to construction. In the event that unanticipated archeological deposits are encountered during construction, work in the immediate area will cease and THC archeological staff will be contacted to initiate post-review discovery procedures. Josh Haefner was the Principal Investigator for this project, performing field work and authoring the report. All project notes, forms, drawings, and photographs will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies (CAS) in San Marcos, Texas. This report is offered in partial fulfillment of Antiquities Permit #7275.

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