ASI Project List

Project List

Client List

Services Offered

Resumes:

Roger H. Werner

Jay M. Flaherty

SELECTED LIST OF CURRENT AND COMPLETED PROJECTS

Oak Canyon Ranch Specific Plan

ASI completed a complete and intensive field investigation of the 3,300-acre project located in southwestern Calaveras County identifying and recording 123 cultural resources. These archaeological sites were incorporated into five groups or districts encompassing prehistory, historic placer mining, and ranching, and then each district and individual site was evaluated for eligibility for inclusion on the California Register of Historical Resources. Reporting consisted of drafting sections for use in an environmental impact report.

Gordon Ranch Specific Plan

CA-SON-1019, a prehistoric site of uncertain function and size, was recorded in 1975. In 2002, TRI began the process of use permit approval for a subdivision on land that included CA-SON-1019. The city requested that TRI evaluate this archaeological site for its California Register of Historic Places eligibility. ASI was retained by TRI to complete the evaluation. Shortly after ASI was retained, it became apparent that a Section 404 permit would be needed and ASI was requested to consult with the Corps of Engineers and evaluate the prehistoric site for its National Register of Historic Places eligibility. ASI conducted a phased testing program that, employed shovel test probes, surface collection units, excavation units, auguring, and backhoe trenching; ultimately, testing served as final mitigation of the ca 5-acre site. ASI documented that the majority of the archaeological evidence suggested use during the Middle Archaic Period and an association with the Ellis Landing Aspect of the Berkeley Pattern.

Gold Rush Ranch and Golf Resort Master Plan Community

Abbott and Kindermann, LLC retained ASI to conduct a complete inventory of the ca. 1,000-acre project area located in southwestern Amador County, California. The project including archival research, a complete field survey, recording of more than 60 cultural resources organized into several groups representing historic occupation, impact assessments, California Register of Historical Resources evaluations, and reporting for use in an environmental impact report. Section 404 permitting will entail National Register of Historic Places evaluations, further archival research, and more extensive reporting.

Copper Valley Ranch Master Plan Community

Working through Sierra Engineering, Associates, Castle and Cooke retained ASI to complete archival research and a complete inventory of the 4,500-acre former Brunker Ranch, located on part of the 11 square league Rancho Rio de la Estanislao in southwestern Calaveras County. ASI conducted research pertaining to historic and modern land uses and ownership, a complete inventory of the property including recording of prehistoric and historic era cultural resources, site specific mapping, and reporting. Section 404 permitting will entail additional research, National Register of Historic Places evaluations, and additional reporting.

Broadstone II Master Plan and Regional Mall

ASI conducted a cultural resources inventory of more than a 1,000 acres and discovered, recorded, and evaluated eighty cultural resources. ASI prepared a Historic Property Treatment Plan for all significant cultural resources; the plan includes resource avoidance and data recovery. Data recovery included excavation of prehistoric and historic sites and preparation of HABS documentation for the Rhodes Branch of the Natomas Water System.

Miller Island Cultural Resources Inventory and Mapping Project

ASI prepared a digital elevation model (DEM) from a pair of aerial photographs and used these data to develop a high-resolution topographic map of a 1,200-acre island near Biggs, Oregon. Using an infrared total station, ASI then keyed the digital map to real world USGS benchmarks. ASI completed a cultural resources inventory locating more than 125 historic and prehistoric sites, including more than 1,500 rock art panels. Archaeological sites and individual rock art panels were recorded, precisely mapped, and photographically documented. ASI also worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (Portland office) mapping damage to several significant archaeological sites vandalized by artifact looters. This work involved precise mapping damaged areas and calculating the quantity of site disturbed.

Bruno Meadows Archaeological Project

ASI evaluated the significance of eight high elevation prehistoric sites and conducted field survey of approximately 100 acres. The work was performed at an elevation of more than 5,000 feet, and the archaeological sites varied from small lithic scatters to very large and complex use/occupation loci some covering over 25 acres. The archaeological sites were evaluated both individually and as a district for their eligibility for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to the archaeological study, ASI was retained to evaluate the physical and chemical affects to archaeological sites caused by trees blown down during frequent high winds and to compare these affects with those caused by helicopter logging. These effort required extensive geological and soil studies as well as specifically tailored archaeological data gathering methods.

Saddle Creek Golf and County Club

ASI conducted a preliminary site assessment in 1988 and a field inventory in 1991. Five prehistoric and five historic archaeological sites were located. ASI performed CEQA-level cultural resources evaluations of the ten cultural resources in 1993. In 1995, ASI re-evaluated all known cultural resources according to federal standards pursuant to the regulations set forth by the Corps of Engineers in 36CFR325. One historic era homestead and three prehistoric milling locations were subject to data recovery. In 1999, ASI was retained to conduct a cultural resources survey of a ca. 2.5-mile long extension of Littlejohn Road.

Greenhorn Creek Golf and Country Club

ASI recorded, mapped, and tested eleven previously identified large prehistoric occupation sites. The sites were then evaluated for significance pursuant to 36CFR325 and a Historic Property Treatment Plan was prepared for significant archaeological sites that involved long-term mitigation for prehistoric sites.

City of Calistoga Pine Street Lift Station Project

ASI conducted a field survey of a ca < 2-acre project site with negative results. Owing to the fact that the project site was situated in the heart of the oldest part of the city, within 500 meters of a very large prehistoric occupation site, ASI recommended exploratory trenching to insure that buried cultural resources were not present. Since the discovery of buried archaeological sites would have significantly delayed construction at considerable cost to the City, ASI was requested to generate definitive positive or negative determinations. Backhoe trenching discovered a huge concrete feature approximately 35 ft by 30 ft by 12 ft deep. The feature, defined by 6-inch thick concrete walls divided into four rectangular compartments. Research has identified the feature as a ca. 1920s community septic system of an unusual character. ASI evaluated the feature and judged it significant. HAER recording and mapping will be carried out in the spring of 2000 as part of the stipulations of a Historic Property Treatment Plant.

Benziger Family Winery Water Treatment Expansion Project

ASI conducted a field survey of a 60-acre winery and relocated one prehistoric site that had been recorded in 1978. ASI conducted a CEQA-level significance evaluation and judged the site eligible for inclusion on the California Register of Historic Resources. Working with the project engineers, ASI accurately determined the boundaries of the site; thus enabling construction of holding ponds to proceed on schedule.

South County Surface Water Project

ASI conducted a complete and intensive survey of a ca 250-acre water treatment plant site and a windshield survey of approximately 45 miles of potential pipeline right-of-way in southern San Joaquin County. ASI prepared a CEQA-level report that recommended additional field survey along the pipeline ROW once the final route had been established. In addition, subsurface exploration of proposed stream crossings and at the water treatment plant site has been proposed. These areas judged archaeologically sensitive.

Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) Station Platform Project

ASI conducted field survey of four proposed station sites in Stockton, Lathrap, Tracy, and Livermore with negative results.

Royal Mountain King Mining Project, Copperopolis

ASI conducted a field survey of approximately 2,000 acres locating thirteen prehistoric sites and twenty-seven historic era mining sites. ASI recorded all of the prehistoric cultural resources and working with a qualified historical archaeologist, recorded historic sites and evaluated the significance of all identified cultural resources employing both CEQA-level and National Register of Historic Places criteria. All discovered prehistoric sites were subject to subsurface testing. All of the historic sites were grouped into the Felix-Hodson Historic Mining District; data recovery was performed on specific historic resources. ASI conducted data recovery at seven prehistoric sites, one of which contained two distinct prehistoric cemeteries. In total, more than 1,000 individual human graves were exhumed, analyzed, and reburied. The site in question proved to have at least ten distinctive cultural occupations the earliest dating back to the Pleistocene Epoch ca 9,500 years BP. The most recent occupation was in the 1830s. ASI's involvement ended with the last field season in 1991 and the client retained a university to perform laboratory analysis on a partially pro bono basis.

Dos Palos and South Dos Palos Sewage Treatment Plant Project, Merced County

ASI conducted a field survey of approximately 200 acres of reclaimed farmland with generally negative results. ASI, however, received verbal statements from local farmers about a Native American cemetery located somewhere in the ca. 500-acre field within which the project was to be located. Based on these reports, ASI conducted an extensive backhoe-trenching program. ASI excavated one hundred 20-ft long trenches with negative results. Owing to persistent oral concerns of the community, ASI recommended construction monitoring. On the first day of project excavation, human remains were located at several widely dispersed locations. After consulting with local Native Americans, the client, FmHA, and the Office of Historic Preservation, a combination burial rescue and archaeological data recovery program was devised. ASI identified, carefully excavated, and reburied on site more than 600 individual graves and the individuals therein; simultaneously, ASI was able to salvage a large amount of associated archaeological data.

Lodi and Tracy Multimodal Transportation Station Development Projects

ASI conducted archival research and field surveys at the two locations. The project location in Lodi involved an existing Southern Pacific Railroad station and the Lodi Arch. ASI recorded and evaluated the station and the arch, judging them both eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. ASI worked closely with an historical architect and the SHPO to develop an interior building redesign that enabled the existing station to retain its historic external characteristics. The depot in Tracy had been demolished in the 1960s but ASI recorded footings and foundations during the field survey in 1996. Working closely with ESA, the project was partially redesigned so that the remains of the depot would not be affected by proposed construction.

Roseville Regional Wastewater System

ASI completed a cultural resources survey of more than twenty miles of pipeline right-of-way, and tested and defined the boundaries of one prehistoric site. ASI also gathered environmental, historical, topographical, and archaeological information and using GIS technology developed a regional constraint map for the City of Roseville encompassing more than twenty-five square miles.

Weber Point Events Center

ASI completed extensive archival research and performed limited exploratory excavation to discover the location of the 1850 Charles M. Weber home and ascertain if evidence for the home was still extant. The work involved use of modern and historical aerial and terrestrial photographs, historic maps, and city records, published and unpublished information, and newspaper microfilm archives. ASI collected these data from numerous local and regional data repositories and the Internet. Data were used to develop of a series of AutoCAD base maps, from which a predictive location of the Weber home was made; the trenching program was based on these maps. Testimony of the accuracy of these maps was that the foundation remains of the Weber home were found within an hour after trenching began. In addition, to the mapping database, ASI is developing a photo-archive specific to Weber Point and an extensive source list of materials relating to Weber Point, the Weber family use of the location, the use of Weber Point over time, other related subjects. The Weber home site will be evaluated for its National Register of Historic Places and California Register of Historic Resources eligibility in the Summer of 2000.

Flowers Ranch Cultural Resources Study

In 1991, ASI was retained to complete a constraint analysis of the 3,000-acre Flowers Ranch located near Copperopolis, California. This effort involved limited field inspection of selected locations, extensive use of aerial photographs, historical maps, and locally available archival resources. Data were then digitized and entered into a GIS and a series of maps were created identifying development sensitivity based on costs associated with archaeological site location, testing, mitigation, and avoidance. Subsequent to this study, ASI was retained to complete a cultural resources survey of the proposed encroachment of the Littlejohns Creek Road extension on to State Highway 4. This effort involved field survey of approximately 50 acres. One prehistoric and one historic site were identified. The prehistoric site was subject to a limited test and judged eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Working with Sierra Engineering Associates, the encroachment design was modified to avoid this prehistoric site. In 1995, ASI was retained to evaluate a prehistoric site located along the State Route 4 encroachment to the Flowers Ranch Project. This study entailed working with the local Indian community and conducting subsurface testing. In 1999, ASI was asked to conduct a survey of the proposed extension of Littlejohns Road north to State Route 4. The survey was 2.5 miles long and 100 feet wide.

Placer County Cultural Resources Inventory

Working for a large environmental firm, ASI conducted an inventory all historic era resources in non-incorporated areas of Placer County and developed a relational database in dBase IV+ with which to store, retrieve, manipulate, and analyze data from more 800 structures and structural remnants. A windshield survey of the entire county was completed and all observed cultural resources were recorded on State forms, which were then digitally recreated in dBase. The final product was a report discussing Placer County historical context, tables depicting site records by type and location, a comprehensive database of all historical structures under county jurisdiction, and a set of USGS topographic base maps showing the locations of all structures and the physical remains of structures as well as all recorded prehistoric and historic archaeological sites. The contract required that ASI develop an effective volunteer program and monthly reports to the Board of Supervisors. The work was performed as part of Placer County's effort to gain classification as a certified local government under Section 106 of the National Historic preservation Act.

Open Contract to Perform Cultural Resources Surveys, Merced County

ASI conducted cultural resources inventories for eight bridge replacement projects throughout Merced County. These projects involved evaluation of historic canal alignments and some structures. Various DOT compliance reports were completed and submitted.

Diablo Grande Golf Course, Country Club, and Planned Community

In 1991, ASI evaluated five prehistoric cultural resources for their CEQA significance. Later in 1991, ASI was requested to generate revised site records for other cultural resources discovered on within the project area. In 1994, ASI completed a survey of a road alignment, identified, and evaluated four possible cultural resources for an individual Section 404 Corps of Engineers Clean Water Act Section 404 permit. In 1995, ASI conducted a cultural resources survey of approximately 100 acres and evaluated three prehistoric loci and one historic period ranch complex for their eligibility for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Simultaneously, ASI was requested to develop a more precise map for a large occupation site located within the project area. In 1998, ASI was retained to survey more than 800 acres and to assess and integrate into a coherent document all cultural resources studies completed within the project area for a combined Section 404 permit for the entire Diablo Grande project. The final report recommended substantial additional efforts with respect to evaluation and avoidance.

City of Ukiah, Mendocino County California, General Plan Cultural Resources Component

ASI was retained by the city to prepare the cultural resources component of the city's general plan update. We initially conducted an extensive review of all relevant documents relating to the city's built environment and compiled a list of those structures that were more than 50 years of age. We also collected information regarding the locations of known prehistoric and historic archaeological sites. We then digitized these data into a geographic information system (Arc/INFO) and generated a base map using the Ukiah, Calif. 7.5 minute USGS as a base. The base map was augmented by a large scale map provided by the planning firm preparing the overall general plan document. ASI then conducted a drive-by windshield type survey to verify the presence of historic structures. The final element of the study entailed creating a sensitivity map using the project base map.

City of Fort Bragg, Mendocino County California, General Plan Cultural Resources Component

ASI was retained by the city to prepare a cultural resource component for its general plan update. Initially, ASI created a digital base map for the city using the Fort Bragg, Calif. 7.5 minute USGS map. We then collected all written and oral information about the built environment and plotted the locations of known historic structure. The locations of known prehistoric and historic archaeological sites were also plotted on the base map. The final element of the study was creating a sensitivity analysis of the city.