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III. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING,IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES E. CULTURAL RESOURCES mounds and elevated locations may have been completely buried by sediments from the hydraulic mining that took place in the late 1800s, a important component to prehistoric site surveys is the review of historic-era maps, aerial photographs, and early soil surveys. KNOWN CULTURAL RESOURCES In November 1999 ASI Archaeology and Cultural Resources Management conducted a record search of the project area at the California Historical Resources Information System,Central California Information Center, California State University Stanislaus,Turlock,California(CLIC File No. 3602L). The record search indicated that no prehistoric or historic sites have been recorded on or within a quarter mile of the project site(Werner, 1999). The closest reported cultural resource survey was completed by Napton (1989) less than a quarter mile southwest of the project site. A review of data complied by Schenck and Dawson(1929) indicates a prehistoric site(Site 81)is located on the former E.W.S. Woods ranch west of the San Joaquin River, and another site (Site 82) is located about a mile south of the project area on Walker Slough (Werner, 1999). A field survey of the project site was conducted on November 18, 1999, during which no previously unrecorded historic or prehistoric resources were discovered. Thus,no archaeological sites are known to exist within or immediately adjacent to the project site. Located as it is on basin-type soils lacking any surface features(as determined from the aforementioned review of aerial photos and early surveys),the project site is not a likely location for prehistoric sites. In addition, all known prehistoric sites in Stockton were at one time within a quarter mile of sloughs or the margins of marshes. An examination of early maps of the Stockton area and historic period aerial photographs indicates that the closest natural water course to the project site are the San Joaquin River and Mormon Slough,both of which are well beyond the quarter mile distance judge to be archaeologically important. PLANS AND POLICIES City of Stockton General Plan Background Document Regarding paleontological and archaeological sites,the General Plan Background Document states the following: Paleontological and archaeological sites can yield information about 1)the prehistoric activities of man; 2)evidence of earlier historic cultures that once inhabited the area; and 3)sites having spiritual or cultural significance to living native Americans.... As of January 30, 1989....204 known archaeological,prehistoric,and ethnographic sites exist in San Joaquin County. [Environmental impact reports] normally include an archaeological search for the proposed site to be undertaken by qualified researchers. If significant sites are found, appropriate actions are taken to preserve and research the site. If paleontological or archaeological sites are found during the construction of a project, the project will be stopped until qualified archaeological researchers have determined appropriate action. Stockton Scavenger Transfer Station Expansion III.E.2 ESA 1990190