The City of Ellensburg is proposing to construct a low-income housing development at the north end of the city. The area of potential effect covers approximately 3.2 acres. The proposed undertaking is a 13-lot development, and will result in extending Water Street north of West Bender Road for 600 feet. Water Street will have a 20-foot roadway, 10-foot planting strip, and a 7-foot sidewalk. Lots will measure 70 x 96 feet and 40 x 135 feet, and be located east of the Water Street extension. Alleys and landscape buffers are planned along the north of the property and perimeters of the lots.
Pre-field research revealed 13 previously recorded archaeological resources within 1.0 mi (1.6 km) of the Project Area; however, none of these resources are located in the Project Area. The Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation’s predictive model places the Project Area within areas of moderately low risk for encountering cultural resources.
The fieldwork included inspection techniques to identify both surface and subsurface archaeological resources. The pedestrian survey and subsurface investigations for the Water Street Improvement Project resulted in no newly recorded archaeological resources during the pedestrian survey or subsurface investigations. No further archaeological investigations are recommended prior to, or during, execution of this project.
Location: Kittitas County, Washington
