Punkin Center Road Bridges Replacement Project & Geoarchaeological Excavations

Location: Modoc County, California
Client: SHN Geologists & Engineers

The Punkin Center Road Bridges are a vital artery to an isolated rural valley location. The bridges are under structural duress, requiring replacement to ensure continued recreational, emergency, and agricultural access for the residents of Big Valley. In a joint partnership, DZC Archaeology & CRM and SHN were retained by the County of Lassen to execute a Phase 1 Cultural Resource Inventory as well as geologic and wetland studies, administered under a Local Assistance Grant.

In order to identify traditional prehistoric use and historic cultural resources of the southern Big Valley area, DZC staff coordinated meetings with the Pit River Tribe, local historians, and adjacent landholders, as this project would require the cooperation of private land-owners. Issues addressed included the paucity of local cultural studies to date; identification of traditional and contemporary use areas; the initial risk, commitment, and long-term results for the participation of private landholders; and project disturbances within geologic formations with a high potential to yield cultural resources.

The meetings resulted in a long-term cooperative planning strategy with Caltrans, DZC, SHN, and the Pit River Tribe to utilize Tribal Cultural Monitors and professional archaeology staff. This place-based approach ensured Native American and local resident concerns were addressed and incorporated early on into the project design while ensuring legal compliance with CEQA and NEPA.

DZC Archaeology completed the initial Phase 1 Study which included the delineation of an ESA for resource protection. Subsequently, DZC was invited by the County to extend their involvement and design the Extended Phase 1 Geoarcaheolgoical Testing component, building on the previously established relationships and approach.

DZC Consulting submitted an Extended Phase I (XPI) proposal, which has been accepted by Lassen County and is scheduled for September of 2017. The deliverables are an ASR, HPSR, and XP1 reports.