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Soil Investigations for Data Collection in the Delta Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration 134 Areas along waterways, especially rivers, floodplains, and alluvial fans, and high- elevation points near these features, are highly sensitive for cultural deposits due to a long-standing tendency to rely on waterways as a water source, food source, and as a convenient transportation route (be it travel on land or water). High elevation points along these waterways are common locations of prehistoric mounds and middens, which are complex deposits of cultural materials and organic matter, sometimes including human burials and occupation features that can be found subsurface as deep as 3.5 meters depending on the age, soil deposition pattern, and length of occupation (Rosenthal et al. 2007). This is particularly important to note as mounds were densely located along major waterways according to early-twentieth century documentation (one mound every 2-3 miles) (Schenck and Dawson 1929). Many of these were disturbed or obscured by agricultural development, levee construction, and erosion (Rosenthal et al. 2007), but this does not mean the cultural material is not still present within these areas. Historical-to-modern aged artificial fills and cuts (including levees, sloughs, canals, and dredge spoils) are not easy to predict for buried deposits as prehistoric material was frequently ignored before federal regulations were established to protect archaeological material. During construction of these features, archaeological sites of any age, including prehistoric mounds, were frequently disturbed via cuts, used as artificial fill for structures such as levees, or were completely buried underneath artificial fill. There is little way to predict the likelihood of encountering deposits within these features without some form of explicit geoarchaeological testing, as they cannot be predicted for with currently available process-based models (Meyer and Rosenthal 2007). There is a moderate to high potential for encountering surface and buried deposits from the historic era (post-European contact, but especially since circa. 1850) throughout the Study Area (Rosenthal and Meyer 2004; Meyer and Rosenthal 2007; Meyer and Rosenthal 2008; Reynolds 2012). This material is the most likely to be well preserved and closest to the surface, though sometimes can extend quite deep due to features such as historically sealed wells and privies. Historic-era resources are likely to be encountered no matter the geological age, especially in the Study Area, as historical maps for these areas indicate structures, trails/wagon roads, and properties dating back to at least 1850 (BLM 2019; USGS 2019). Historic era cultural resources also include levees, railroads, roads, and other built environment structures older than 50 years that are within the Study Area for this Proposed Project, such as Levee Unit 115. This Proposed Project also requires consideration of the underwater archaeological record due to overwater boring activity. The rivers were used for transportation both prehistorically and historically within the region, and the Sacramento River has one of the better researched histories for maritime activity. Tule balsa boats, dugout canoes, and reed balsa boats were used for activities such as fishing along the lower Sacramento River by Patwin, Nisenan, and Miwok tribes respectively (CSLC 1988). European ships started exploring up the Sacramento River as early as 1772, and regular traffic along the river became established in 1839 with the founding of Sacramento by John Sutter and the development of surrounding settlements and ranches (CSLC 1988). There are at least 100 historic shipwrecks known from archival