A Cultural Resource Survey Report and Archaeological Monitoring and Discovery Plan for the Salt River Project 69-kV Transmission Line Pole Replacement Between Rio Verde and Fountain Hills, Maricopa County, Arizona

Salt River Project (SRP) maintains a 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line between the Glenbrook substation in Fountain Hills and the Rio Verde substation in the community of Rio Verde in Maricopa County, Arizona (Figure 1). The transmission line is currently supported by 30-year-old wooden poles, which generally follow the alignment of McDowell Mountain Road. In order to improve the overall safety and durability of the transmission line, SRP intends to replace all of the wooden poles with sturdier steel ones. Installation of the new poles will occur on lands managed by the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) and by the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department (MCPRD) as part of McDowell Mountain Regional Park, and therefore requires compliance with the Arizona State Historic Preservation Act. Accordingly, SRP requested that EcoPlan Associates, Inc. (EcoPlan) conduct a cultural resource investigation in advance of the transmission line pole replacement project. The investigation was carried out under the authority of the Arizona Antiquities Act Permit No. 2005-028bl, which was issued to EcoPlan by the Arizona State Museum (ASM).