Additional Testing for Padre Dam Eastern Service Area Secondary Connection- Alternative Site Location, San Diego County, California

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1 Mark Niemiec Padre Dam Municipal Water District P.O. Box Fanita Parkway Santee, California Re: Additional Testing for Padre Dam Eastern Service Area Secondary Connection- Alternative Site Location, San Diego County, California Dear, This letter report documents the results of an archaeological investigation conducted by ASM Affiliates, Inc. (ASM), for Padre Dam Municipal Water District's (District) Eastern Service Area Secondary Connection-Alternative Site Location, San Diego County, California (Figure 1). The purpose of this cultural assessment was to determine the absence or presence of subsurface cultural constituents within the proposed project area through shovel test pits (STPs). To date, two phases of work were conducted within the area of potential effects (APE). During the first phase (see memo dated April 25, 2012), a total of nine recorded prehistoric isolates and two prehistoric bedrock milling sites were identified within the APE. Adam Giacinto, ASM Archaeologist, directed a crew of three archaeologists, and Dr. Micah Hale (formally ASM) provided oversight. The project area was subsequently revisited and tested a second time by Associate Archaeologist Angela Pham with Assistant Archaeologist Thomas Taylor on June 22, 2012 under the supervision of Dr. Mark Becker. Description of Activity The District is proposing the construction of a pump station, reservoir, and flow control facility in the unincorporated community of Lakeside (Figure 2). The address for the proposed project area is Olde Highway 80 (Highway 8 Business Loop). The area is within an unsectioned portion of El Cajon land grant of Township 15 South and Range 1 East on the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-minute El Cajon quadrangle. Los Coches Creek runs through the proposed project area, east-to-west (Figure 3). The environment is primarily comprised of imported, nonnative and native grasses, and ornamental plants and trees, with southern willow scrub vegetation along a portion of Los Coches Creek and several oak trees scattered throughout the parcel. The proposed project is located on a parcel (APN ) totaling approximately 4.4 acres.

2 Page 2 On June 21, 2012, the District requested that ASM conduct further investigation of the proposed project area. The subsequent testing occurred on June 22, 2012 and consisted of eleven STPs located on the southern most end of the proposed project area. Frank Brown, Native American representative for the Viejas Band of the Kumeyaay, was present during the archaeological testing. Results of Shovel Test Pits During this second subsurface phase of cultural investigations, eleven additional STPs (STP-11 to STP-21) were excavated (Figure 4). These STPs were located on the southern part of the proposed project area where the reservoir and pump station may be located. The STPs measured 0.25 m north/south x 0.5 m east/west. STPs were excavated in 20-cm levels. All but one STP was excavated to a depth of 40 cm due to the absence of cultural material. Due to its close proximity to a boulder outcrop, STP-17 continued down to a depth of 60 cm. STP-17 did not yield cultural material. In summary, all eleven of the STPs excavated on the most recent investigation of the project area were negative. The side-wall profiles from all STPs exhibited limited-to-severe mixing of subsurface and surface soils through bioturbation and modern activities. Native American Concerns and Observations The Native American representatives have expressed concern regarding the limited visibility of the ground surface throughout the project area. Conclusions Intensive pedestrian survey and subsurface testing conducted by ASM suggests that there is a sparse distribution of cultural material throughout much of the proposed project parcel. A total of two bedrock milling features, one portable millingstone, five lithic flakes, 32.4 g of imported marine shell, and 8.7 g of avian bone were recorded on the surface and through subsurface testing. All areas within the parcel have been subjected to natural and modern disturbances. Testing indicates that no significant subsurface cultural deposits are present, and that there is a high level of disturbance both on and below the surface. Based on this testing program, the sparse distribution of cultural material and lack of significant subsurface cultural deposits, the archaeological site within the current proposed project parcel has low data potential and does not appear to meet the significance criteria defined within the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and San Diego County Resource Protection Ordinance (RPO). If extensive ground disturbance will occur within this project parcel, archaeological monitoring is recommended, along with careful movement of the first two feet of soils through controlled grading to ensure the proper treatment of any unanticipated discoveries of cultural deposits. It

3 Page 3 is also recommended that a monitoring and unanticipated discoveries treatment plan be prepared prior to any project construction at the current project parcel. A Native American observer should also be present during further project work at this site. If you have any questions regarding this report, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Mark S. Becker, Ph.D., RPA Project Manager CC: Angela Pham, M.A., RPA References Laylander, Don and Dave Iversen 2006 SDI-4553, Major Shellfish Genera and Prehistoric Change on the San Diego County Coast. In PCAS Quarterly, 39 (4): Attachments: Figure 1. Regional overview of project location Figure 2. Location Map: El Cajon, CA USGS quad: T 15 S, R 1 E Figure 3. Study Area; Old Highway 80 project parcel Figure 4. Map of all excavation locations. Note that STPs were conducted for the second phase of subsurface investigations

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5 Page 5 Figure 2. Location Map: El Cajon, CA USGS quad: T 15 S, R 1 E

6 Page 6 Figure 3. Study Area; Olde Highway 80 project parcel

7 Page 7 Figure 4. Map of all excavation locations. Note that STPs were conducted for the second phase of subsurface investigations.