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Texas Historical Commission
Abstract
BOB Hydrographics, LLC (BOB) conducted an underwater archaeological survey for a proposed barge fleeting area on Buffalo Bayou in Harris County, Texas. Pertinacity Harbor and Marine Services, LLC funded this study. Schneider Engineering and Consulting, Inc. of Galveston, Texas subcontracted with BOB to conduct this archaeological assessment. The survey spans portions of State Mineral Lease Tracts B and B1 downstream from the East Beltway 8 Bridge in Pasadena. The proposed fleeting area (the PROJECT) measures 400 x 2,000 feet and encompasses 18.4 acres. Water depths in the PROJECT range from less than -0.5 feet to -20 feet below Mean Lower Low Water. Dredging is proposed to provide a uniform depth of -12 feet. Mooring will be provided by spud barges spaced at regular intervals. Field investigations included a geophysical survey, performed under Texas Antiquities Permit 9507, from August 12 to 14, 2020. The purpose of the survey was to locate potential archaeological sites that could be affected by dredging. The survey plan encompassed 34.8 acres, including the PROJECT and a Texas Historical Commission buffer, extending 50 meters beyond the PROJECT, or less where limited by the shoreline. Magnetometer survey was completed over 24 acres, and side-scan sonar survey covered 40 acres. Portions of the planned survey could not be completed due to shoals and to a small number of barges that could not be moved. An archaeological assessment was conducted of all data acquired from the survey. No artifacts were collected during this survey. A desktop review of the cultural background determined that 8 underwater archaeological investigations and 2 historic wrecks have been reported within 3 miles of the PROJECT. Analysis of geophysical survey results from the survey did not discover any targets potentially eligible for the State Antiquities Landmark or for the National Register of Historic Places; therefore, BOB recommends clearance of the proposed undertaking from further cultural resource requirements. This study was completed in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (Public Law 89-665; 16 U.S.C. 470) and the Antiquities Code of Texas (Texas Natural Resource Code, Title 9, Chapter 191). The minimum reporting and survey requirements for underwater archaeological studies conducted under a Texas Antiquities Permit are mandated by The Texas Administrative Code, Title 13, Part 2, Chapters 26 and 28, respectively.
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