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Arcus Private Capital Solutions, LLC (Arcus) is proposing development of the 24-acre Rittenhouse Ranch parcel, located in Queen Creek, Maricopa County, Arizona. A prior pedestrian survey of the project area demonstrated that a portion of a large prehistoric Hohokam archaeological site, AZ U:10:2 (ASM), also referred to as the Southwest Germann Site, covers the entire parcel. The Arizona State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and other State and Federal agencies consider the Southwest Germann Site eligible for the Arizona and National Registers of Historic Places for its potential to provide information important to our understanding of prehistoric Hohokam lifeways in the Queen Creek Delta. Survey results of the Rittenhouse Ranch portion of the Southwest Germann Site documented a parcel wide, low-density surface scatter of prehistoric artifacts, with some burned bone fragments (Courtright 2014), and a moderately dense artifact concentration in the northern portion of the parcel that contained prehistoric ceramic sherds, marine shell, burned bone, and stone tools. The presence of the artifact concentration suggested that this portion of the project area was of higher archaeological sensitivity. Based on survey data, it was unclear if any of the observed bone was human bone. The Rittenhouse Ranch property is privately owned. Development of the parcel is not anticipated to require federal, state, county, or town permits with requirements regarding the treatment of cultural resources other than Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) 41-865. ARS 41-865 stipulates the treatment of human remains and funerary objects found on private land. Arcus retained SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) to aid in compliance with ARS 41-865 by conducting surface artifact inventory and subsurface testing to determine whether burials, human remains, or funerary objects are present at the site. An archaeological testing plan—Archaeological Testing Plan for a Portion of AZ U:10:2 (ASM), the Southwest Germann Site, for the Proposed Rittenhouse Ranch Development, Queen Creek, Maricopa County, Arizona (Tremblay and Garcia 2016)—was submitted to the Arizona State Museum (ASM) in support of Burial Agreement 2016-001. The plan outlined a program of work comprising a detailed surface artifact inventory and subsurface testing (backhoe test trenching) to determine if significant subsurface artifacts, features, or human remains were present within the project area. This report describes the methods and results of the testing program. Surface artifact inventory took place from January 14-19, 2016, followed by subsurface testing January 28 through February 11, 2016. Daniel Garcia was the project manager; Caitlin Hayden was crew chief, assisted by crew members Morgan Kinney and Paul Rawson. Casey’s Backhoe Service provided equipment and skilled operators for the project.

Salt River Project (SRP) plans to construct a double-circuit, 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and a new substation, known as RS-24, to reinforce the local, existing electric transmission system by providing an alternate 230kV transmission loop between the new Abel Substation and Moody Substation, which will substantially improve system reliability and performance. The new transmission line is expected to be approximately 20 miles in length, depending on the selected alternative. The associated substation is expected to be approximately 20 to 25 acres in size, depending on the selected parcel.

The following report summarizes the results of Phase I data recovery within a portion of AZ U:10:2 (ASM), the Southwest Germann Site, a National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)-eligible prehistoric site situated near the intersection of Sossaman and Rittenhouse Roads in the town of Queen Creek, Arizona (Figure 1). The Salt River Project (SRP) plans to construct a substation within a rectangular-shaped, 310- by 360-foot area (USGS Higley, Arizona 7.5' 1956/1981). The 2.5-acre Rohrig substation parcel (Parcel) is in an undeveloped but disturbed segment of SRP-owned land. The project is being funded by SRP. Phase I fieldwork was conducted between May 27 and June 10, 2004. Field crew included Scott Courtright, Dave Bild, Brad Santos, Justin Rogers, and Meghann Walker. During fieldwork, a surface reassessment was undertaken and the extent of the artifact scatter within the Parcel was defined. Systematic backhoe trenching was also completed across the entire Parcel and 35 backhoe trenches were excavated (representing 4 percent of the site surface area). As a result of Phase I data recovery, 27 intact buried features—including one cremation and one indeterminate-age ditch—were located and documented within the Parcel (Figure 2). The cremation was excavated according to the terms of the signed burial agreement. All project-related artifacts, notes, photographs, and samples will be curated with SRP.

Northland Research, Inc. (Northland) has completed archaeological testing at seven sites along a pipeline corridor at the request of the Salt River Project. Two of the sites, AZ U:10:2(ASM) and AZ U:14:74(ASM), are considered eligible to the National Register of Historic Places but required archaeological testing to determine the presence and extent of subsurface features within the project area prior to construction of the pipeline. The eligibility of the five remaining sites was unknown. Therefore, AZ U:15:248(ASM), AZ U:15:249(ASM), AZ U:14:54(ASM), AZ U:14:361(ASM), and AZ AA:2:131(ASM) were tested for NRHP eligibility based on the presence or absence of intact subsurface remains.

This document presents a research design and data recovery plan for seven archaeological sites located along a 36-mile-long natural gas pipeline that the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District (SRP) is planning to construct between Gilbert and Coolidge, Arizona. All of the sites are associated with the prehistoric Hohokam culture and are considered eligible for the Arizona and National Registers of Historic Places, based on their potential to contribute important information to the prehistory of the region. The purpose of this document is to outline steps that will be taken to mitigate the adverse effects of pipeline installation on those portions of the seven sites that fall within the SRP right-of-way. This work will be conducted under ASLD Right-of-Way Application No. 16-107631.

Northland Research, Inc. (Northland) has completed archaeological testing at nine of the ten sites along a proposed natural-gas pipeline at the request of the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District (SRP). The purpose of the testing was to determine the extent and eligibility status of the ten sites for the Arizona and National Registers of Historic Places (AZ/NRHP). Four of the sites, AZ U:10:2(ASM), AZ U:10:116(ASM), AZ U:10:175(ASM), and AZ U:14:74(ASM), have been previously determined NRHP eligible based on their potential to inform on the prehistory of the region, but additional testing was required to determine the presence and extent of subsurface features within the proposed pipeline corridor (Lindly and Mitchell 2002:41). The eligibility status of the six remaining sites could not be determined based on surface evidence alone. Additional testing was therefore recommended at AZ U:10:176(ASM), AZ U:15:248(ASM), AZ U:15:249(ASM), AZ U:14:54(ASM), AZ U:14:361(ASM), and AZ AA:2:131(ASM)2 to determine if intact subsurface remains were present (Lindly and Mitchell 2002:42).

This document represents an archaeological testing plan for nine sites within the Santan Expansion Project Pipeline Corridor project area. SWCA, Inc. conducted a cultural resource survey for a proposed gas pipeline between an existing pipeline in Coolidge and the Santan Generating Station in Gilbert, Arizona (Lindly et al. 2002), Salt River Project is proposing to construct an approximately 36 mile-long pipeline in the project area on private land with numerous rights-of-way on Arizona State Land (ASLD Right-of-Way No. 16- 107631 and ASLD Rights-of-Entry Application Nos. 29-107580 and 29-107686). Eighteen archaeological sites and 50 isolated occurrences were recorded within the project area as a result of this survey. Four prehistoric archaeological sites: AZ U:10:2 (ASM), AZ U:10:116 (ASM), AZ U:10:175 (ASM), and AZU: 14:74 (ASM), are considered eligible but testing would be required to determine the presence and extent of features within the project corridor. Five prehistoric archaeological sites: AZ U:14:361 (ASM), AZ U:15:248 (ASM), AZ U:15:249 (ASM), AZ U:15:429 (ASM), and AZ AA:2:131 (ASM), are considered potentially eligible for inclusion on the National Register under Criterion D, however eligibility could not be determined without testing for intact subsurface remains. Five sites represent linear historic properties (Eastern Canal, North Side Canal, Roosevelt Water Control District Canal, Union Pacific Railroad, and Magma Arizona Railroad) that will not be affected by the pipeline construction. Two historic roads (AZ AA:2:128 and AZ AA:2:149) were considered ineligible and no further work was recommended for them. A historic canal (AZ AA:2:130) and abandoned railroad grade (AZ U:15:335) were considered potentially eligible. However, no further work was recommended for the portions of these historic sites within the project area because the proposed project will not affect their overall integrity.

This report presents the results of an archaeological testing and data recovery program for approximately two acres of land located in Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona (Figure 1.1). The research was conducted at the request of William Olsen and Gerald Ricke of Mesa, Arizona, prior to the purchase of the land for proposed private development. The irregular parcels are located east of Sossaman Road and Rittenhouse Road and the Southern Pacific railroad form the southern boundary (Figure 1.2).The artifact concentrations within the parcel are located completely within the boundaries of the S.W. Germann Site (AZ U:10:2 [ASM]), a previously recorded Hohokam village, dating from the Pioneer to Classic periods. The survey of the surrounding 30 acre project area (Lindly 2001) documented two potential areas of significant cultural resources consisting of a low mound and a trash deposit feature with cremated human bone. At the request of William Olsen and Gerald Ricke, SWCA implemented a program of archaeological testing and data recovery within these areas to determine the nature and extent of all intact subsurface archaeological features including human burials before construction begins. A testing plan was submitted to the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office prior to the testing (Lindly and Mitchell 2001). Eight features, including four burials were documented. The four burials consisted of three inhumations and one cremation, and these were excavated under a burial agreement with the Gila River Indian Community and the Arizona State Museum. The pottery recovered from the site was dominated by red ware and polychrome types, which are characteristic of the time period around A.D. 1200-1400. The location of the residential area associated with these burials may be further to the east outside the project area.

In consultation with the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), HALLIBURTON NUS conducted a preliminary data collection effort and "Class I Overview" of the Williams AFB property and surrounding area. This consisted of a literature search and review of files at the SHPO. The Class I Overview identified three archaeological sites on the Williams AFB property. The Midvale Site (AZ U:10:24, ASU) consists of a large prehistoric Hohokam village considered to be of cultural importance. The site has been studied in some detail, delineated, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The two other sites (AZ U:10:20, ASU, and AZ U:10:25, ASU) have been preliminarily identified on the basis of surface artifacts. Their areal extent has not been well defined, and it is not known whether they possess attributes that would qualify them for eligibility for the NRHP. A small portion of Site AZ U:10:20 (ASU) has received test excavations, but these efforts resulted in few data that would support NRHP eligibility of this site within Williams AFB (Goodfellow 1989). Most of the rest of the Williams AFB property had not been examined prior to this time for the presence of archaeological resources. However, because numerous such sites exist in the area surrounding Williams AFB, a strong possibility that other areas of the base also contain archaeological resources was considered likely.