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�r Archaeological lakes, Ince 8110 Lorraine Avenue,Suite 408 • Stockton,California 95210 • (209)474-3121 November 1, 1993 y D.R. Ketron, PE Mining Engineering I` P.O. Box 12 Volcano, California 95689 RE: KRC Aggregates proposed permit areas, San Joaquin County, archaeological sensitivity, historic and prehistoric resources ' Sir: During our visit to the KRC Aggregates project site, 28 October 1993, 1 made the following observations regarding the occurrence and nature of historic and prehistoric resources in the project area. The project area is located in gently rolling peidmont terrain along the western fringes of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, in northern San Joaquin County, less than five miles south of Camanche Reservoir and the Mokelumne River. Vegetation types are California Grasslands, Oak Savanna, and Oak Woodland. Hill tops and upland areas are characteristically open grassland and savanna. Slopes along drainages are typically blue oak woodland with scattered live oak along drainage courses and . } lower slopes. A few cottonwoods are present along drainages as well. Some buckeye are present in small clusters on north-facing slopes in the northeast corner of the project area. Drainages are seasonal or ephemeral and there appears to be no natural year-round surface water. Stream courses appear to trend north and west out of the project area. No competent bedrock was exposed in any area that I examined and therefore bedrock mortars or rock art were absent j. : No prehistoric resources were noted during the cursory walkover. Historic resources, as t'- defined by CEQA, are present, and include ranching-related structures, hand and machine excavated , wells, and windmills, and mining from at least two periods. The earliest mining appears to be placer mining along the larger seasonal drainages. This period is marked by low piles of placer tailings along stream courses, small check dams, and ditches. One passible camp site, associated with placer r mining, was also noted; it consists of a low mound of rock with associated ashy deposits and an area that may be a tent site. Placer mining remains extend out of the project area to the west and north. i The second period of mining is marked by machine mining of surface gravels, riveted metal water y tanks, a windmill, and concrete footings, one of which appears to date to 1939. This mining appears to be associated with a reservoir which may have acted to trap sediments. A record search of the files maintained by the Central California Information Center, California State University, Stanislaus yielded negative results. No previously recorded cultural resources exist within the project area; nor has the area been subject to prior archaeological study. The 1870 General Land Office Plat map for Township 4 North, Range 9 l=ast, was also consulted. No historic roads, structures, or use other than as agricultural land is indicated in Section 30. (707) 277-9533 9467 Chippewa Trail • Kelseyville,CA 95451 f a-