A04_RFQ_SOW.pdf

Request for Quote: Archaeological Phase I Survey and Phase 2 Evaluations, Morris Wetland

Management District (WMD), Giese Waterfowl Production Area (WPA), Section 22, Donnelly

Township (T126N R43W), Stevens County, Minnesota

If interested, please provide a fixed-price and time-frame proposal to conduct a Phase 1

Archaeological Survey and a Phase 2 National Register evaluation for an undocumented historic homestead site and portions of two precontact sites (21SE0042 and 21SE0043). This scope of work is required to meet with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. §

306108) for the Giese WPA Tree Removal Project.

The Giese WPA consists of federal lands administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

(FWS). The Tree Removal Project involves removing dense woody trees through mechanical methods to restore prairie conditions. The areas of potential effects (APE) for approximately 6 acres of large and/or dense tree removal are outlined in orange on Figures 1 and 2. Additional scattered small-to-medium tree removal will also occur across the remaining 265 acres using flush-cutting methods, for which the FWS does not anticipate any ground disturbance.

FWS cultural resource staff have reviewed documents and records held by the Regional Office, Minnesota Office of the State Archaeologist (MN OSA) portal, historic aerial imagery (1938;

1951; 1965), USGS Chokio 15’ Quadrangles (1910; 1912), and Plat Book of the State of

Minnesota for Stevens County (1916) which indicate that unevaluated archaeological sites occur within the project’s Area of Potential Effects (APE). The APE consists of archaeologically sensitive landforms with previously documented precontact archaeological scatters and the approximate location of an undocumented historic Euro-American farmstead. Field reconnaissance and photos taken by FWS staff show that foundations and other features associated with the former Giese Farmstead still remain within a 4-acre grove of trees proposed for removal.

A 2001 archaeological survey report prepared by Loucks Associates titled, Phase I

Archaeological Survey of the Giese WPA and Ralph Smith Land Exchange, Morris Wetland

Management District, Stevens County, Minnesota identified seven archaeological sites within the

Giese WPA. The report identified and recommended additional Phase 2 testing for three archaeological sites, of which 21SE0042 and 21SE0043 are recorded in close proximity to the current APE. These sites were both identified by light surface lithic scatters with no subsurface testing conducted other than ¾ inch soil probes to confirm the presence of Ap/B soil profiles.

Subsurface shovel testing should evaluate portions of both 21SE0042 and 21SE0043 which could be potentially affected by the current undertaking (e.g. within the APE).

The area comprising the project’s 6.0-acre APE identified for archaeological survey and testing

(outlined in orange on Figures 1 & 2) shall be subjected to an initial visual inspection to

United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

5600 American Boulevard West, Suite 990 Bloomington, Minnesota 55437-1458 determine appropriate survey efforts. The project APE consists of four separate areas (A, B, C, D), however, only two areas (A & B) may require intensive archaeological survey:

A. Grove of trees with remains of the historic farmstead and portion of archaeological site

21SE0043 (4 acres)

B. Strip of trees adjacent to archaeological site 21SE0042 (2 acres)

C. Northeast strip of trees within prior disturbance; confirm by field observations and testing, as needed

D. Northwest strip of trees within prior disturbance; confirm by field observations and testing, as needed

Field survey and testing of the area of potential effects (APE) shall be conducted in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic

Preservation, as amended and annotated, the SHPO Manual for Archaeological Projects in

Minnesota (2005), and the “State Archaeologist’s Manual for Archaeological Projects in

Minnesota” (2011). All work shall be performed by or under the guidance of a professional archaeologist meeting the Secretary of Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for

Archaeology. An Application for Permit for Archeological Investigations (DI-1926) under the

Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) must be submitted to Region 3 RHPO for review and issuance prior to the start of field work.

The investigations shall include a literature search, including review of historic records, county atlases, aerials, and maps, for the study area. Ground surface reconnaissance will be conducted in areas of the APE identified in Figures 1 & 2. Appropriate field documentation shall be collected to record the Giese Homestead as a new archaeological site with the MN SHPO and OSA. Areas where surface visibility less than 75 percent will be shovel tested. Shovel tests will be excavated at 15-meter intervals along transects spaced 15 meters apart. Deeply disturbed (down to one meter deep), steeply sloped (15% or more slope), paved, or hydric wet areas will not be shovel tested. Shovel tests will measure approximately 35-40 centimeters in diameter and will be excavated to a depth of at least 10 centimeters into culturally sterile subsoil. All soils excavated from shovel tests will be dry screened through ¼ inch hardware cloth and the shovel tests will be immediately backfilled. Records of shovel tests will include soil profiles with texture and color descriptions and photographs. Locations of the shovel tests will be documented by sub-meter accurate GPS.

Positive shovel tests shall be bracketed by radial shovel tests placed 5 meters in the cardinal directions from the original positive test to accurately determine the edges of artifact concentrations and facilitate possible project redesign to avoid them. To the extent possible, the contractor will define the horizontal and vertical extent of each site, as well as its internal configuration and any features. Survey and site delineation may extend beyond the current APE by no more than 30 m or 100 feet and must not extend beyond the Giese WPA boundary.

Following site delineation, a sketch map will be prepared, showing the locations of all historic features, positive and negative shovel tests and surface finds. Sufficient testing should be utilized to reasonably identify, record, and assess archaeological sites for research potential and integrity within the APE, including a recommendation for National Register eligibility. If a potentially eligible site is identified, closer interval shovel testing and/or limited excavation of 1 x 1 m test units may be required, however, efforts should be made to minimize disturbance and unnecessary archaeological testing. Recommendations for project avoidance or minimization of effects of all potentially eligible site areas should be provided.

The contractor shall maintain standard field records including field notes, compass and pace/metric field maps, photographs, GPS readings, and subsequent laboratory analysis records.

These records will include coverage maps showing the locations of areas examined and variation in the intensity of pedestrian and shovel-test survey coverage within each survey area. Special emphasis shall be placed on recording detailed information on the location and intensity (number of transects, etc.) of shovel tests, the location of areas with good surface visibility, (such as primitive roads/open areas), areas that did not receive survey and the reason, and other aspects of survey coverage. All records generated in the field (notes, photos, negatives, maps, etc.) as well as electronic, digital, or computer formatted documents shall be provided to the USFWS at the end of the project.

Any collected artifacts shall be curated with the Minnesota Historical Society; a current curation agreement with the MHS will be required for the ARPA permit.

Following fieldwork, the contractor will provide a draft archaeological report in PDF format to the USFWS for review. The report shall meet the requirements of the MN SHPO and make clear recommendations for the project, the potential significance of each newly inventoried and evaluated cultural resource; identifying sites which clearly meet National Register of Historic

Places eligibility criteria (36 CFR 60.6), sites which may require further assessment, and sites which do not appear to meet eligibility criteria. Please forward any questions regarding the cultural resource requirements of the proposal to Staci Black, Archaeologist/Acting Deputy

RHPO at staci_black@fws.gov.

Sincerely, J.B. Bright, Wildlife Refuge Specialist

Morris Wetland Management District jb_bright@fws.gov

Enclosures:

Figure 1: Area of Potential Effects Aerial Map

Figure 2: Area of Potential Effects Topographic Map cc: Michael Budd, USFWS District Manager, Morris WMD

Staci Black, USFWS Acting Deputy RHPO mailto:staci_black@fws.gov