SOW_Cultural_Resource_Lake_Andes.pdf

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: MOUNTAIN-PRAIRIE REGION

Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge: Multiple Construction and Demolition Projects Cultural Resource Field Work: Scope of Work

May 2023

I. Purpose

The purpose of the proposed project is to inventory, evaluate and document cultural resources (Project) within the areas of potential effects (APE) for the construction and demolition of buildings and structures (Undertaking) at multiple locations at Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) and Lake Andes Wetland Management District (WMD) in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The proposed project will also provide architectural documentation and assist with interpretive development to meet stipulations of ‘Memorandum of Agreement Between the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the South Dakota State Historic Preservation Officer Regarding the Lake Andes NWR Repair Trails and Levees Project, Charles Mix County, South Dakota’ (MOA).

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is seeking the services of a qualified cultural resources contractor with experience in the state of South Dakota. Qualifications as defined by the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards, to perform an intensive (Class III) survey, which may include shovel probes, as well as building and structure recordation. Preparation of the associated site forms, reports or other documentation will be expected. The documentation will include evaluation of cultural resources for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). If the Undertaking is expected to have an adverse effect on a resource, recommendations for mitigation will be provided. The APE includes 20 acres of inventory and evaluation on five parcels of federal land and 20 acres of mitigation area on another parcel in Charles Mix County, South Dakota. The total APE is 40 acres. At least nine buildings and structures are expected to be recorded and evaluated.

Documentation at the Owens Bay Levee for the MOA noted above will be similar to Historic American Engineering Record standards (HAER). See description below.

II. Background The Refuge was established in 1936 as a sanctuary for waterfowl and other migratory birds.

It has a unique relationship with the State of South Dakota that owns the lake bottom while the Refuge manages water levels for habitat. The Refuge is located in Charles Mix County, South Dakota along Lake Andes within the exterior boundary of the historic Yankton Sioux Reservation.

Over the years, buildings have been constructed and moved to current locations to serve the needs of the Refuge and land has been acquired with buildings and structures already present. None of the buildings and structures currently planned for demolition have been previously recorded under Section 106 of the NHPA. Recently, other structures and landscapes immediately to the south near Owens Bay were recorded. The site forms may provide background relevant to this project. Although the USFWS Region 6 also has an excellent context document, Dedicated to a Duck, (2020) it only applies to Depression-era resources and Lake Andes Refuge was not included in the document.

The buildings and structures to be recorded and evaluated for this project all appear to have been constructed and moved to their current locations after the Depression Era, except possibly the farm buildings at the Hubers Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) and the bunkhouse. The age of those buildings is unknown. Regarding the remaining buildings, they vary from 76 to 40 years old (built between 1947 and 1983).

The majority of the existing information concerning the buildings and structures within the APE will be electronically provided to the consultant at the start of the project. The consultant should plan to contact the Refuge staff for their expertise, Refuge narratives, historical photographs or other archival resources while on-site at the Refuge. These might be limited due to the loss of archives in the 2019 flood.

II. USFWS Contacts

- Karri L Springer, ND/SD Zone Archaeologist, (701) 355-8577 (office) or (720) 556-3844 (mobile), karri_springer@fws.gov

- Mick Hanan, Wildlife Refuge Manager, Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex, (605) 487-7603 (office) or (605) 481-2347 (mobile), mick_hanan@fws.gov

III. Location (see attached map and associated GIS shape files)

The six parcels, 40 acres total, are approximately 5 miles east of the town of Lake Andes, South Dakota and are within 3.5 miles of each other. APE dimensions and legal locations:

• Old HQ/Visitor Center area: 600’ x 200’ and 300’ x 140’ = 3.7 ac. APE o Township 97 North, Range 64 West, 5th PM, Sec. 31, SE

• Shop area: 700’ x 440’ = 7.0 ac. APE o Township 96 North, Range 64 West, 5th PM, Sec. 5, NW NE

• New HQ: 210’ x 320’ = 1.5 ac. APE o Township 96 North, Range 64 West, 5th PM, Sec. 5, NE NW

• Bunkhouse area: 300’ x 450’ = 3.1 ac. APE o Township 97 North, Range 64 West, 5th PM, Sec. 31, SE

• Hubers WPA buildings: 460’ x 430’ = 4.5 ac. APE o Township 97 North, Range 64 West, 5th PM, Sec. 22, SW SW

• Owens Bay Levee: 1800’ x 500’ = 20 ac. mitigation area o Township 96 North, Range 64 West, 5th PM, Sec. 6, W1/2 of E1/2

• TOTAL APE = 40 ac.

IV. Description of Undertaking This Undertaking will demolish and construct multiple buildings on the Refuge and WMD covering 40 acres of APE and mitigation area.

At the shop area, three main buildings will be demolished (Youngstrom building, 3-sided shed and maintenance shop). The new shop building will be placed over the footprint of the current 3-sided shed. The new shop is larger than the 3-sided shed and will involve additional ground disturbance. Construction of the new 3-sided shed will occur over the existing footprint of the shop and expand to the east of the existing shop footprint.

mailto:karri_springer@fws.gov

The project may slightly modify existing parking lots, septic systems, rural water hookups, and utilities. Potential grubbing of the vegetative (sod) layer at the new shop area may occur, as well as minor landscaping. The structures will sit on a shallow spread footer or concrete pad.

Footings may extend to 6’ below natural grade at 6’ from the perimeter of the building footprint along the entire perimeter. Inside the perimeter of the footings under the main portion of the building, the depth may be 2’. Modified utilities would be installed below frost line (6’ total depth). Staging and stockpiling of any fill or demolition materials will occur within the shop area. The ground surface within the entire project area has been disturbed to some degree.

The pole barn (3-sided shed) was built in 1974 (49 years old). The maintenance shop was built in 1967 (56 years old). The Youngstrom Building was moved to its current site and was built in 1976 (47 years old). These buildings will need to be recorded and evaluated for inclusion in the NRHP.

At the new headquarters (HQ) area, the new garage with parking lot is on land that has been cultivated, but no structures were previously installed there. This land was previously inventoried for the new HQ construction. Although considered part of the APE of the Undertaking, inventory of this area may not be needed.

At the old HQ/Visitor Center area, two buildings, a parking lot and a fence will be demolished, including the septic tank, basement and propane tank/lines. There is no plan to replace the structures. Staging and stockpiling of any fill or demolition materials will occur on the headquarters parking lot or shop area. The ground surface under and near the buildings, parking lot and fence has been disturbed to some degree. The garage, parking lot and fence are 42 and 40 years old, respectively, and will not require recordation. The old HQ/Visitor Center was constructed roughly 73 years ago and was converted from a house to a HQ/Visitor Center space. It was heavily remodeled on the exterior and interior in 1983 and 2016. This building will need to be recorded and evaluated for inclusion in the NRHP.

At the Hubers WPA, a Quonset, stable and pole barn will be demolished and removed and their age is unknown. Recordation and evaluation of the structures will likely be needed.

At the bunkhouse area, two buildings (bunkhouse and garage) will be demolished and a new bunkhouse will be constructed to the east of the current bunkhouse. An extended parking area will be placed over the old bunkhouse area. No other new parking lot area is planned.

Plans are to re-hookup the existing buried utility lines and rural water and to replace the septic system at the bunkhouse. Staging and stockpiling of any fill or demolition materials will occur on the bunkhouse driveway, bunkhouse parking area or shop area. The ground surface under and near this area has been disturbed to some degree.

The current structures to be removed may be 76 years old. They have been present in this location for 37 to 41 years. The bunkhouse was originally a US Army Corps of Engineers house from Pickstown, South Dakota. The bunkhouse has been heavily remodeled on the exterior and interior, including converting part of the house to an attached garage. It is unknown from what location the detached garage was moved. Both the bunkhouse and the detached garage will need to be recorded and evaluated for inclusion in the NRHP.

Demolished materials will be transported off site to a commercial disposal area. Additional details about the history of existing buildings and structures are provided in attached files.

Installation actions at the Owens Bay Levee as planned will have an adverse effect on a historic property. The planned actions are to lower a portion of the Owens Bay Levee and remove a water control structure (WCS). The fill from lowering the portion of the levee will be used to repair other levees. The Owens Bay Levee is a part of the Owens Bay Landscape site and both are eligible for the NRHP. As part of mitigating adverse effects, this Project will:

o Complete documentation in accordance with SD SHPO Guidelines and National Park Service (NPS) HAER Guidelines, without the final submission to the NPS o Record features to be lost (Owens Bay Levee and associated concrete WCS) o Complete a brief history of the levee (initial documentation can be provided) o Digital photography will be acceptable, in place of large format photography o In specific, the Project will update the previously recorded levee and landscape site form, including features to be lost, on the South Dakota Historic Sites Structure Form, including a historical narrative and levee description; high quality digital photographs of the affected features will be sufficient to document features to be lost and to establish their place within the NWR development and CCC contexts; and drawings will be produced of the levee (reproductions of existing drawings), plan map, resource sketch drawings, and, as needed, to document and convey levee construction and function; and measured drawings will be produced of individual site components of individual features thereof, per standard HAER format. The historical narrative shall be extracted into a separate file and provided to the USFWS. Prior to use of drones for aerial photography on the NWR, consult with the NWR for permits or procedures.

Per the MOA, the USFWS may begin demolition of the WCS and lowering of a portion of the Owens Bay Levee after fieldwork to obtain the photographs, drawings, and/or other information necessary to prepare the documentation has been completed, the USFWS has been afforded an opportunity to review those raw materials; and the USFWS determines, in consultation with the SHPO, that the current-state photographic documentation and current-state drawings meet the requirements of the MOA. As such, priority may be placed on completion of these items.

o In addition, the Project will produce an electronic file of a public interpretive poster describing the history of the levee that could be placed along the Owens Bay Nature Trail near the Owens Bay Levee. This document may be modified by USFWS and SHPO personnel prior to placement.

V. Schedule

Task Time Duration from Start*

Initial meeting and discussion between consultant and U.S. Fish and Wildlife cultural resource staff

(USFWS)

1 week / May 1, 2023

Consultant submits draft of forms and report to USFWS 3 months / August 1, 2023

USFWS provides comments back to consultant 3.5 months / August 15, 2023

Consultant submits revised to forms and report to USFWS 4 months / September 1, 2023

USFWS submits forms and report to SHPO for their review 4.5 months / September 15, 2023

USFWS provides SHPO comments to consultant for final revisions of forms and report 5.5 months / October 15, 2023

Consultant submits final forms, report and images 6 months / November 1, 2023

* Actual calendar dates will be established at the start of the project. Fieldwork is weather dependent.

VI. Deliverable Products

This task involves the completion of State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) site forms for appropriate buildings and structures or groups of resources. Emphasis should be placed on the physical description of the buildings and structures, information concerning modifications through time and their relationships to each other. Additional foundations or other remains from previous structures may be found. Landscape elements, such as vegetation plantings, signs, trails, fences and roads may be described and evaluated as potential contributing features.

As noted, existing information is limited. The USFWS facilities database, online research sources, historic maps and aerial imagery, and Refuge staff have provided some information.

Additional background research is encouraged.

The Report should include:

• Introductory and administrative information

• Description of field methods

• Background historical information

• Summary information on each individual building and structure: description, significance and integrity

• Images (recent and historical) as appropriate

• A map(s) indicating the features at each area

• Justification of NRHP eligibility for individual buildings/structures

• Assessment of NRHP District potential:

Contributing/not contributing buildings, structures and landscape features Physical relationship of elements Boundary

• General recommendations for future work

Recommendations for mitigation, should that be appropriate o Appropriate mitigation documentation (see above)

• Summary and conclusions

• Bibliography of references cited

• Appendices as needed

An extensive photographic record should be submitted to help illustrate the assessment of the individual buildings/structures and potentially as district(s). Photographs should include exterior views of the buildings/structures in their existing settings, views of elevations, interior views (when access is possible) of significant rooms/spaces, and any historic character-defining features or modern modifications.

Select photographs should be imbedded in the forms and report as appropriate. All photographs should be provided as individual digital files labeled with a description and date.

All documentation, including reports, forms, and images, will comply with State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) standards in addition to any requirements noted in IX. Additional Information noted below. Deliverables may be submitted in digital format via e-mail. The contractor will be required to submit hard copies and electronic files of the report and site forms for the South Dakota State Archeological Research Center for archiving. If additional hard copies are required by the USFWS, the contractor will be notified.

VII. Access / Land Ownership

The project is on fee title federal USFWS lands with access via a gravel road that runs east-west through the Refuge and other USFWS roads and trails. Contact Mick Hanan (see II.

USFWS Contacts above) to schedule exact dates of the field work. In addition, if interiors of buildings can be accessed, coordinate scheduling with Mick Hanan. He or other Refuge staff may meet you at the project area during the field work. Refuge staff may be living and working in the APE.

VIII. Personnel and Permits

Individuals working on this project need to be under the direct supervision of staff who meet or exceed the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards. An individual meeting these standards must be present for all phases of the field work.

Since the project is on federally owned lands, the contractor must obtain an Archaeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA) permit from the USFWS prior to the start of any field work.

Contact Karri L Springer for ARPA forms and information. A Special Use Permit (SUP) may also be required. Contact Mick Hanan for SUP information.

IX. Additional Information

• All images, including those imbedded in the report and forms, need to be provided as individual files with descriptive labels.

• The attached maps, files and shape files include the entire Area of Potential Effect / the areas to be surveyed.

• The attached photographs and maps provide locations and examples of the buildings and structures to be recorded, terrain and ground cover.