Article Title

Intensive Archeological Survey for the Bridge Replacement on Farm-to-Market 1511 at Serasca Creek, Leon County, Texas

Authors

Mary Rodriguez

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

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 2.4 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 Code Permit No. 8366.

The total area of potential effects (APE) is defined as the existing 100-foot-wide FM 1511 ROW beginning 260 feet north of the Serasca Creek Channel Centerline and extending 1,035 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 for the rest of the project. The APE is approximately 2.4 acres.

Background research identified no archeological surveys, archeological sites, cemeteries, or known historic resources within a 0.6-mile (1-kilometer) radius review area. In addition, seven potentially historical structures are located within the review area on 1953 and 1964 U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps. 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 mechanical backhoe trenching. The existing ROW is heavily disturbed by prior roadway and bridge construction activities; in addition, a fiber optic line is located within the western portion of the ROW. 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.

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