Article Title

Short Report On The Archeological Investigations For The Buttermilk Creek Stormwater Control Measures Project Travis County, Texas

Authors

Christopher Lamon

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

In April of 2018, on behalf of the City of Austin (COA), Hicks & Company conducted an intensive archeological survey of 2.87 acres for the Buttermilk Creek Stormwater Control Measures Project located in east Austin, Travis County, Texas (Figure 1). The proposed project will entail the modification of the creek channel for a distance of approximately 1,000 feet from just east of Bethune Avenue to just east of Blessing Avenue. Proposed impacts will likely include a concrete weir structure with riser pipe for extended detention and localization bank stabilization measures of stacked boulders and planted soil lifts. Additionally, two weir structures will be constructed within the creek channel to control water flow. The survey was conducted in compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas and, as the project will be coordinated with the United States Army Corps of Engineers under a Nationwide Permit 43, with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Totaling approximately three field hours, investigations for the archeological survey were conducted on April 10, and 17 of 2018, and consisted of pedestrian survey supplemented with six shovel tests. No artifactual materials, features, or archeological sites greater than 50 years in age, were encountered during this investigation. Based on the results of the survey, it is recommended that no archeological historic properties (36 CFR 800.16[1]) or State Antiquities Landmarks (13 TAC 26.12) would be affected by the proposed project. No further archeological investigations are recommended for the proposed project area prior to construction. In the event that unanticipated archeological deposits are encountered during construction, work in the immediate area would cease and THC archeological staff will be contacted to initiate post-review discovery procedures.

Josh Haefner was the Principal Investigator for the project, while Christopher Lamon served as Project Archeologist and authored the report. Jerod McCleland conducted the Geographic Information System (GIS) data processing and produced the maps. Josh Haefner, Christopher Lamon, and Debra Desarmeaux conducted the survey. Since no artifacts were collected as a result of this investigation, all project records and photographs will be permanently curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies (CAS) in San Marcos, Texas. This report serves as partial fulfillment of the requirements for Antiquities Permit #8393.

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