Appendix D: Cultural Resources Supporting ... - California

Contra Costa County – Tassajara Parks Project Recirculated Draft EIR

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Appendix D: Cultural Resources Supporting Information

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D.1 - NAHC Letters

September 14, 2014 Jakki Kehl 720 North 2nd Street Patterson, CA 95363 Subject: Proposed Tassajara Park Project, Contra Costa County

Dear Jakki Kehl: At the request of the Contra Costa County, FirstCarbon Solutions-Michael Brandman Associates is conducting a Cultural Resources Assessment for a proposed project within the community of Tassajara, CA. The project site is detailed on the two attached topo maps. The project site consists of two separate areas; the northern site is 155 acres, the southern site is 616 acres. The project consists of the construction of 152 single-family residences on 30 acres of the northern site and 10 acres dedicated to fire department/school use on the southern site. The total acreage slated for development is 40 acres. The remainder of the project sites will be maintained as open space and park/passive recreational uses (trails). The project area will be surveyed sometime this week.

Consultation

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires the City to consider the effect this project may have on historic properties. The definition of “historic properties” includes, in some cases, properties of traditional religious and cultural significance to Native American tribes. To determine whether any historic properties may be affected by the project, MBA has consulted with the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC). The NAHC response letter indicated that there may be additional information to be gained from individual tribal members and/or tribal organizations. MBA is sending this letter to give you the opportunity to provide any additional knowledge you may have about the project area. Because public involvement is a key ingredient in successful CEQA consultation, we are soliciting your input as part of this process.

Please feel free to contact me at 925.788.9097 or via email at [email protected] if you have any questions or would like to

discuss the project in more detail.

Sincerely,

Senior Scientist, Archaeology FirstCarbon Solutions | Michael Brandman Associates

1350 Treat Boulevard, Ste. 380

Walnut Creek, CA 94597

Mobile Phone 925.788.9097

Office 925.357.2562 Enclosures: Aerial Map of Project Area

mailto:[email protected]



D.2 - Site Photographs

Photograph 1: Overview of project area from southwest corner; facing northeast.

Photograph 2: Overview of project area from eastern boundary; facing west.

26480008 • 06/2015 | A_photos1&2.cdr CONTRA COSTA COUNTY • TASSAJARA PARKS PROJECTENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

Appendix ASite Photographs

Source: FirstCarbon Solutions, 2015.

Photograph 3: Overview of project area from southern boundary; facing north.

Photograph 4: Overview of project area from the northwest corner; facing southeast.




Photograph 5: Typical ground cover and soil visibility in project area ; facing north.

Photograph 6: Drainage and visible soils along roadway; facing south.




Photograph 7: Detail of broken cement foundation; facing north.

Photograph 8: Detail of raised mounds in the west of the project area; facing south.




Photograph 9: Detail of walnut trees in the southwest of the project area; facing southeast.

Photograph 10: Detail of isolate flint blade core and pen for scale; facing south.




Photograph 11: View of trail leading out of project area; facing north.

Photograph 12: View of trail leading to tree and hill, at which point it turns east towards farmstead;facing north.




Photograph 13: View of farmstead at terminating northeast end of trail; facing northeast.

Photograph 14: View of trail leading through valley to project area; facing south.




Photograph 15: Typical groundcover and soil visibility along trail; facing north.

Photograph 16: Overview of 10 acre parcel to the southeast of project area from northeast corner;facing south.




Photograph 19: Typical ground cover and soil visibility in 10 acre parcel; facing south.

26480008 • 06/2015 | A_photos19.cdr CONTRA COSTA COUNTY • TASSAJARA PARKS PROJECTENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT



Contra Costa County – Tassajara Parks Project Administrative Draft EIR Appendix D

First Carbon Solutions H:\Client (PN‐JN)\2648\26480008\EIR\1 ‐ ADEIR\appendices\Appendix D Photos.docx

Photograph 20: View of mitigation grading area in the northern project site; facing east

Photograph 21: View of northern wetlands creation area in the southern project site; facing west

Contra Costa County – Tassajara Parks Project Administrative Draft EIR Appendix D

First Carbon Solutions H:\Client (PN‐JN)\2648\26480008\EIR\1 ‐ ADEIR\appendices\Appendix D Photos.docx

Photograph 22: View of two southern wetlands creation areas in the southern project site; facing south

Photograph 23: Detail of southern wetlands creation areas in the southern project site; facing northeast



D.3 - Paleontological Record Search

Kenneth L. Finger, Ph.D. Consulting Paleontologist

18208 Judy St., Castro Valley, CA 94546-2306 510.305.1080 [email protected] August 2, 2015 Dana DePietro FirstCarbon Solutions 220 Commerce, Suite 200 Irvine, CA 92602-1326

Re: Paleontological Records Search: Tassajara Parks Project (2648.0008),

Contra Costa County, California Dear Mr. DePietro: As per your request, I have conducted a search of the University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP) database for the two Tassajara Parks Project sites in Contra Costa County. The Public Land Survey (PRS) location of the northern parcel is in Sec. 33, T1S, R1E, Tassajara Quadrangle (USGS 7.5-series topographic map, 1991), while the southern parcel is in Sec. 4 and 9, T2S, R1E, Diablo Quadrangle 1953, photorevised 1990. Google Earth shows these as undeveloped hilly terrain without significant disturbance. Geologic Units Several geologic maps include the Tassajara area, including those of Dibblee (1980), Graymer et al. (1994), and Helley et al. (1997). Both project sites (outlined in red on the adjacent map) are mapped as Pleistocene alluvium (Qpaf) and undifferentiated Plio-cene to Late Miocene sedimentary rocks (Tpms, br, and Tgvt, depending on the map). Both units are potentially fossiliferous.

Qhaf Holocene alluvial fan deposits Qpaf Pleistocene alluvial fan deposits Tpms Pliocene–Early Miocene sedimentary

rocks Tgvt As above. Green Valley & Tassajara

Formations of Conduit (1938). br Same as above. Piliocene & older

undifferentiated bedrock

Paleontological Records Search, Tassajara Parks Project (2648.0008) K. L. Finger

UCMP Database Records Search For Contra Costa County, the UCMP specimens database lists nearly 15,000 Middle Miocene to Late Pleistocene vertebrates. They are distributed among the North American Land Mammal Ages as 3401 Clarendonian (13.6 to 10.3 My), 1219 Hemphillian (13.6 to 10.3 My), 1267 Blancan (4.9 to 1.8 My), 1 Irvingtonian (1.8 to ~0.24 My), 9923 Rancholabrean (~0.24 to 0.011 My). The UCMP localities database includes 29 Miocene-Pleistocene sites in the Mt. Diablo Quad (including those of Blackhawk Ranch), and 7 Miocene in the Tassajara Quad. Within ~1 mile of the northern project area and in the Tassajara Quad are four Clarendonian (Miocene) vertebrate localities: • UCMP loc. 708 (Tassajara) in Sec. 33, geologic unit not indicated: holotype specimen

of the extinct horse Hipparion platystyle. • V85113 (Rassmusen Ranch 1) in Sec. 34 geologic unit not indicated:: specimens not

yet databased. • V88023 (Quail Run Way) in Sec. 29: Green Valley Fm., specimens not yet databased • V5726 (Tassajara School) in Sec. 34: Green Valley Fm. camelid. Vertebrate localities within ~1 mile of sothern project sit and in the Tassajara Quad are:

• V6869 (Maxum) in Sec. 4): Tassajara Fm., 1258 specimens of the Blancan (Pliocene) fauna, including Clemmys marmatus (western pond turtle), Hypolagus (rabbit), Peromyscus (mouse), Protospermophilus (squirrel), Thomomys (wood rat), Repomys maxumi (cricetine rodent), Ogmodontomys sawrockensis (microtine rodent), and Scapanus (mole).

• V5810 (Tassajara) in unsectioned land: Tassajara Fm., Hemphillian (Miocene) gomphotheriid (ground sloth).

• V5727 (Tassajara Creek 1 in Sec 15 Tassajara Quad): Green Valley Fm., Clarendonian (Miocene) specimens not yet databased

Remarks and Recommendations A paleontological walkover survey of the project sites prior to construction is recommended because the surface appears to be relatively undisturbed and significant paleontologic resources may be exposed. Excavations anywhere within the sites will disturb paleontologically sensitive units. It would therefore be prudent to have a qualified cultural resources monitor onsite during all excavations. Should any vertebrate bones or teeth be unearthed by the construction crew, their work in the immediate vicinity of the discovery should be diverted until the monitor or a professional paleontologist evaluates the find for its scientific value. If deemed significant, it should be salvaged and deposited in an accredited and permanent scientific institution (e.g., UCMP), where it will be properly curated and preserved for the benefit of current and future generations.

Paleontological Records Search, Tassajara Parks Project (2648.0008) K. L. Finger

If I can be of further assistance on this project, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely,

References Cited Dibblee, T. W., Jr., 1980. Preliminary geologic map of the Las Trampas Ridge

Quadrangle, Contra Costa and Alameda counties, California. USGS Open-File Report OF-80-545.

Graymer, R.W., Jones, D.L., and Brabb, E.E., 1994, Preliminary geologic map emphasizing bedrock formations in Contra Costa County, California: A digital database: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 94-622.

Helley, E.J., and Graymer, R.W., 1997. Quaternary geology of Contra Costa County and surrounding parts of Alameda, Marin, Sonoma, Sacramento, and San Joaquin counties, California derived from the digital database open-file 97-98. USGS

Appendix D: Cultural Resources Supporting ... - California

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