Cultural Resources Survey of a CA 1.19 Mile Long Corridor for a Proposed Drainage Channel Associated with the Agua Fria Freeway (State Route 101L), Located Directly North of the Grand Canal and Bethany Home Road in Glendale, Maricopa County, Arizona

On December 29, 1997, and January 9 and February 20, 1998, Archaeological Research Services, Inc. (ARS) conducted a cultural resources (archaeological) survey along a portion of the Grand Canal in Glendale, Maricopa County, Arizona. The survey was performed at the request of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to determine if important cultural resources were present within or immediately adjacent to the study area which could be affected by the construction of a proposed drainage channel associated with the Agua Fria Freeway (ADOT Project #RAM 600; TRACS# 101L MA H0795 S1D). The study was performed under the conditions of Contract No. 97-17 between the ARS and ADOT, and the authority of Permits 97-17BL and 98-13BL, issued to ARS by the Arizona State Museum (ASM); the ASM was notified of ARS's intent to perform the survey by letter of 12-29-97. The total of approximately 35.8 acres (14.5 hectares) of private and municipal lands were examined during this study. As a result of the survey, one historic archaeological site, one historic feature, and one potentially historic feature were identified and recorded within and immediately adjacent to the project area. These cultural resources are briefly described below. Site AZ T:7:167 (ASM), represented by an in-use segment of the historic Grand Canal, constructed between 1878 and 1886. This canal segment apparently serves to channel surplus or run-off (waste) water from area agricultural fields into the New River channel approximately one-half mile to the west. As an aggregate historic property, the Grand Canal is considered to be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criteria A (association with important events) and C (design/construction) of 36 CFR Part 60.4 However, that portion of the Grand Canal within the current study area has been extensively modified from its original condition by reconstruction and enlargement projects in 1907 and 1911-1913, and by the addition of a modern concrete lining. As such, this segment of the Grand Canal lacks several critical aspects of integrity including setting, materials, workmanship, and feeling. It is the opinion of ARS that the portion of the Grand Canal within the project area, does not contribute to the overall National Register eligibility of Site 167 (ASM), and no further preservation and/or avoidance measures are recommended. In addition to the historic archaeological site, portions of a historic irrigation canal and a possibly historic irrigation canal were identified and recorded. These irrigation features consist of, respectively, an historic Roosevelt Irrigation District canal constructed in 1928 and extensively upgraded in 1984-1985, and a historic/modern unlined dirt irrigation distribution canal. Although at least one of these structures is of historic age, both have been modified from their original condition, and are unremarkable examples of a common type of irrigation structure. These features do not represent significant cultural resources in terms of National Register of Historic Places eligibility criteria; no further preservation and/or avoidance measures are recommended. Cultural resources clearance for the proposed drainage channel construction project is being recommended for approval by the appropriate entity (ies). In the event that subsurface cultural remains are encountered during the course of the proposed project, such activities must be discontinued in the immediate vicinity of the remains, and a professional archaeologist consulted in order to determine their nature and significance.