The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife proposes to relocate two existing campsites and add a new campsite, all located along the Tucannon River in Columbia County. The existing campsites will be removed and the floodplain will be restored. Each new campsite will have differing configurations, and will include a gravel access road, a maximum of six 14-x-40-feet parking stalls, and one vault toilet.
The WISAARD revealed 33 cultural resources within 1.0 mile of the Project Area, none of which are located within areas of proposed undertakings. Previously recorded cultural resources along the Tucannon River include isolated Native American isolates (i.e., biface, pestle, and flakes), as well as a historic homestead. Historic maps suggest this region was well traveled by the early 20th century. The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation’s predictive model places the Area of Potential Effect (APE) within an area of very high risk for encountering cultural resources.
The pedestrian survey and subsurface investigations at the New Campground #6 Project Area, the New Campground #9 Project Area, the Old Campground #6 Project Area, and the Old Campground #10 Project Area provided no evidence of Native American or historic-era cultural materials or features. Each location showed a degree of ground disturbance (i.e., cut and fill, and existing campgrounds).
An isolated chert flake was observed on the surface at the New Campground #10 Project Area. Shovel probes excavated 5.0 m to the north, south, east, and west were negative. An isolate provides important information about the types of areas exploited by past populations but is not considered eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The proposed undertaking will result in No Historic Properties Affected, and no further archaeological investigations are recommended prior to, or during, execution of this project.
Location: Columbia County, Washington
