A Cultural Resource Survey for the Callaway Drive

Transcription

NMCRIS Activity No. 130929
A Cultural Resource Survey for the Callaway
Drive Corridor Study in Carlsbad,
Eddy County,
New Mexico
Prepared for:
Molzen Corbin
1155 Commerce Drive
Las Cruces, NM 88011
Prepared by:
Brad Beacham, M.A., and Nate Myers, M.A.
Report Submitted by:
Brad Beacham, Principal Investigator
Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc.
Survey Conducted Under
New Mexico State Archaeological Survey Permit Number: NM-12-266-S
ESS Report No. 2014-05
August 2014
Abstract
The City of Carlsbad (the City) is proposing improvements to Callaway Drive located on the
north side of Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico. The purpose of this project is to improve
Callaway Drive from the north side of the low water crossing at the Pecos River to the
intersection at West Cherry Lane, in order to address safety, improve system capacity, enhance
the corridor’s local and regional connectivity, correct current physical deficiencies, and
accommodate community development. The proposed improvements include fives alternatives
designed within the available 60 feet (ft) of existing municipal right-of-way. Common elements
to each of the alternatives include the construction of a multi-modal path, the relocation of
existing utility poles, and construction of a retaining wall. The proposed multi-modal path is to
be located along the north side of the existing drainage canal, north of Callaway Drive and the
Carlsbad Irrigation District’s (CID) East Canal. The relocation of existing utility poles will be
from their present location along the north edge of Callaway Drive to either a position closer to
the CID irrigation canal or to the north side of the drainage canal where the pedestrian path is
proposed to be located. The retaining wall adjacent to the East Canal is proposed to resolve a
grade difference between the irrigation canal and the roadway shoulder. The proposed project
will consist of two phases. Phase I includes improvements along Callaway Drive between Quail
Hollow Run and West Cherry Lane. Phase II includes the multi-modal path and improvements
along Callaway from the north side of the low water crossing at the Pecos River to Quail Hollow
Run. At present, funding is available through the City for the completion of Phase I of the
project. Funding has yet to be identified for completion of Phase II of the project. Adjacent land
ownership is a combination of municipal, CID and private land owners.
Molzen Corbin contracted with Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc. (Epsilon Systems) to conduct an
inventory of cultural resources in the proposed project area. Completion of the current inventory
was necessitated by the anticipation of potential funding from state or federal sources for Phase
II of the proposed project and in acknowledgment of the proximity to the CID, a recognized
National Historic Landmark. The Area of Potential Effects (APE) was defined in consultation
with the City, Molzen Corbin, and the guidelines of the New Mexico Department of
Transportation (NMDOT) and the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division (HPD). An
intensive (100-percent) pedestrian cultural resource survey of the 13.38-hectare (33.06-acre)
project APE was conducted by Brad Beacham and Nate Myers on June 4, 2014. The survey was
performed under New Mexico Archaeological Survey Permit Number (No.) NM-12-266-S. The
Archaeological Resource Management Section (ARMS) of HPD designated the survey as New
Mexico Cultural Resource Information System (NMCRIS) Activity No. 130929. Brad Beacham
served as the project manager, field director, primary author and principal investigator. Nate
Myers served as field crew and a contributing author on the report. Kristen Reynolds reviewed
the report as a qualified historian.
Callaway Drive Corridor Study
ii
The project area is located within Township 21 South, Range 26 East, Sections 25 and 26, in the
City of Carlsbad, as shown on the Carlsbad West, NM (1985) and Carlsbad East, NM (1978)
7.5-minute United States Geological Survey (USGS) quadrangles (Figures 1-1 through 1-3). The
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates for the Beginning of Project (BOP) are as
follows (Zone 13, North American Datum [NAD] 83): Easting (E) 569694, Northing (N)
3590242. The UTM coordinates for the End of Project (EOP) are as follows (Zone 13, NAD 83):
E 571244, N 3590884.
Four historic acequias were located and documented within the APE during the current
inventory. These include the Main Canal, the Southern Canal, the East Canal, and an unnamed
lateral that is a diversion from the East Canal. The Main, Southern and East Canals are each
recognized, portions of the CID, a National Historic Landmark listed on the NMSRCP (SR No.
7) as well as the NRHP (NR No. 66000476) under both Criteria A and C.
Acequia 1, the Main Canal, overlaps with a small portion of the proposed project APE. As
proposed, the Callaway Drive improvements will avoid the Main Canal and all of those elements
contributing to the eligibility of the historic property. Therefore, subject to consultation and
comment, the proposed undertaking will have no effect on the Main Canal. No further
management consideration is warranted for this resource.
Acequia 2, the Southern Canal intersects the project alignment at one location. As designed, the
proposed Callaway Drive improvements will be conveyed over the Southern Canal via the
existing CBC structure. The proposed footprint of the roadway improvements will be confined to
the limits of the existing structure. As such, the proposed project will avoid the Southern Canal
and all of those elements contributing to the eligibility of this historic property. Therefore,
subject to consultation and comment, the proposed undertaking will have no effect on the
Southern Canal. No further management consideration is warranted for this resource.
Acequia 3, the East Canal, parallels much of the project corridor along the north side of
Callaway Drive. As designed, the proposed project will include improvements to Quail Hollow
Run and Hays Drive at their respective intersections with Callaway Drive. Quail Hollow Run
and Hays Drive are conveyed over the East Canal via existing concrete slab structures. The
proposed improvements at these locations will be confined to the limits of the existing structure,
thus avoiding the East Canal and those elements contributing to the eligibility of the historic
property. Additionally, the proposed improvements will include the construction of a retaining
wall adjacent to the East Canal, as needed, to resolve a grade difference between the ditch and
existing grade where the roadway shoulder is in close proximity to the canal. The retaining wall
will reduce the potential for erosion and retain the integrity of purpose and functionality for the
irrigation facility. During construction of the retaining wall, Epsilon Systems recommends that
manual excavation be required within close proximity to the East Canal in avoidance of impacts
to the resource. Therefore, subject to consultation and comment, the proposed undertaking will
iii
have no adverse effect on the East Canal. No further management consideration is warranted for
this resource.
Acequia 4, an unnamed lateral intersects the project alignment at one location. Via the East
Canal, Acequia 4 is an extension of the CID system. As such, Acequia 4 is recommended
eligible for the NMSRCP and the NRHP under Criterion A, due to its association with the
historic CID. Furthermore, Acequia 4 is recommended eligible for the NMSRCP and the NRHP
under Criterion C, due to the presence of concrete and stone masonry construction with CCC
stamps, serving as an example of improvement efforts completed between 1938 and 1939 for the
CID system (Hufstetler and Johnson 1991).
As designed, the proposed roadway improvements will require the expansion of the existing
concrete slab bridge that provides conveyance of Callaway Drive across Acequia 4. The bridge
expansion will be similar in design to the existing structure, extending above the lateral, and will
require widening of the concrete slab and the installation of spread footings to accommodate the
proposed roadway design. As a result, the proposed bridge slab will not directly impact the
concrete-lined ditch. During construction of the bridge expansion, Epsilon Systems recommends
that manual excavation be required within close proximity to Acequia 4 in avoidance of impacts
have no adverse effect on Acequia 4. No further management consideration is warranted for this
resource.
If the recommendations made in this report are followed, subject to consultation and comment,
Epsilon Systems recommends that the proposed Callaway Drive Corridor Study should have no
adverse effect to any resources listed, or eligible for listing, in the NMSRCP or NRHP.
However, should cultural materials be exposed during construction, all work should cease
immediately and SHPO should be contacted.
This project complies with the provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as
amended through 1992, the New Mexico Cultural Properties Act (18-6-1 through 18-6-17 New
Mexico Statues Annotated [NMSA] 1978), and the Prehistoric and Historic Sites Preservation
Act (18-8-1 through 18-8-9 NMSA 1978), and applicable regulations. The report is consistent
with state and federal standards for cultural resource management.
iv
Table of Contents
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ v
List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. v
List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. v
Appendices..................................................................................................................................... vi
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1-1
2. Project Description................................................................................................................. 2-1
3. Environmental and Cultural Context ..................................................................................... 3-2
Environmental Context .................................................................................................... 3-2
Cultural Context............................................................................................................... 3-3
Historic Era Overview (A.D. 1540 to 1950) .............................................................. 3-3
4. Previous Research Summary ................................................................................................. 4-1
5. Field Methods ........................................................................................................................ 5-1
6. Fieldwork Results .................................................................................................................. 6-1
Historic Acequias ............................................................................................................. 6-1
Historic Acequia 1: Main Canal (HCPI Number 34006) .......................................... 6-1
Historic Acequia 2: Southern Canal (HCPI Number 34007) .................................... 6-3
Historic Acequia 3: East Canal (HCPI Number 34008) ........................................... 6-5
Historic Acequia 4: HCPI Number 34009 ................................................................. 6-8
7. Interpretive Summary ............................................................................................................ 7-1
8. NRHP Recommendations ...................................................................................................... 8-1
Management Recommendations ...................................................................................... 8-1
9. References .............................................................................................................................. 9-1
List of Tables
Table 4-1. Previous Cultural Resources Surveys Within 500 m of the Project APE…………...4-1
Table 4-2. Previously Recorded Sites Within 500 m of the Project APE………………………4-2
Table 4-3. SCRP and NRHP-listed Properties Within 500 m of the Project APE ...…………...4-2
List of Figures
Figure 1-1. Project Vicinity. ........................................................................................................ 1-3
Figure 1-2. Overview of the Project Area Showing the APE (1:24,000 Scale)........................... 1-4
Figure 1-3. Overview on Aerial Imagery of the Project Area Showing the APE (1:24,000 Scale).
................................................................................................................................................ 1-5
Figure 3-1. Photograph of John Pope in later years as a Brigadier General. ............................... 3-4
Figure 3-2. Painting of Pope’s Well operation circa 1858, by expedition artist Harry S. Sindall. 35
v
Figure 3-3. Charles B. Eddy, founder of Carlsbad. ..................................................................... 3-5
Figure 3-4. Carlsbad residents on early Harley-Davidson motorcycles pose in front of The
Flume. .................................................................................................................................... 3-7
Figure 3-5. The original Eddy County Courthouse. .................................................................... 3-9
Figure 3-6. Early visitors to Carlsbad Caverns prepare for the guano bucket ride.................... 3-11
Figure 3-7. Jim White, the figure wearing a cowboy hat near the base of the stalagmite, guiding
an early cavern tour. ............................................................................................................. 3-11
Figure 6-1. View to the east/southeast along the Main Canal with the Bifurcation Works in the
background. ............................................................................................................................ 6-1
Figure 6-2. View to the east of the Main Canal terminus at the East Canal Turnout. ................. 6-2
Figure 6-3. Overview to the north along Acequia 2 with view of Checkgate No. 2. .................. 6-3
Figure 6-4. Overview to the north along Acequia 2 with view of Feature 1. ............................ 6-3
Figure 6-5. Overview to the east along Acequia 3 with view of the East Canal Turnout in the
background. ............................................................................................................................ 6-5
Figure 6-6. Overview to the southeast of Acequia 3 with view of Features 2 and 3. ................. 6-5
Figure 6-7. Overview to the southeast of Acequia 3 with view of Feature 6. ............................ 6-6
Figure 6-8. View to the south along Acequia 4 with Callaway Drive in the background. .......... 6-8
Figure 6-9. View to the south along Acequia 4 showing transition to cobble construction and
CCC stamp. ............................................................................................................................ 6-8
Appendices
Appendix A. Project Mapping and Location Information.
Appendix B. HCPI Forms.
Appendix C. Project Photography.
vi
1. INTRODUCTION
The City of Carlsbad (the City) is proposing improvements to Callaway Drive located on the
north side of Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico. The purpose of this project is to improve
Callaway Drive from the north side of the low water crossing at the Pecos River to the
intersection at West Cherry Lane, in order to address safety, improve system capacity, enhance
the corridor’s local and regional connectivity, correct current physical deficiencies, and
accommodate community development. The proposed improvements include fives alternatives
designed within the available 60 feet (ft) of existing municipal right-of-way. Common elements
to each of the alternatives include the construction of a multi-modal path, the relocation of
existing utility poles, and construction of a retaining wall. The proposed multi-modal path is to
be located along the north side of the existing drainage canal, north of Callaway Drive and the
Carlsbad Irrigation District’s (CID) East Canal. The relocation of existing utility poles will be
from their present location along the north edge of Callaway Drive to either a position closer to
the CID irrigation canal or to the north side of the drainage canal where the pedestrian path is
proposed to be located. The retaining wall adjacent to the East Canal is proposed to resolve a
grade difference between the irrigation canal and the roadway shoulder. The proposed project
will consist of two phases. Phase I includes improvements along Callaway Drive between Quail
Hollow Run and West Cherry Lane. Phase II includes the multi-modal path and improvements
along Callaway from the north side of the low water crossing at the Pecos River to Quail Hollow
Run. At present, funding is available through the City for the completion of Phase I of the
project. Funding has yet to be identified for completion of Phase II of the project. Adjacent land
ownership is a combination of municipal, CID and private land owners.
Molzen Corbin contracted with Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc. (Epsilon Systems) to conduct an
inventory of cultural resources in the proposed project area. Completion of the current inventory
was necessitated by the anticipation of potential funding from state or federal sources for Phase
II of the proposed project and in acknowledgment of the proximity to the CID, a recognized
National Historic Landmark. The Area of Potential Effects (APE) was defined in consultation
with the City, Molzen Corbin, and the guidelines of the New Mexico Department of
Transportation (NMDOT) and the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division (HPD). An
intensive (100-percent) pedestrian cultural resource survey of the 13.38-hectare (33.06-acre)
project APE was conducted by Brad Beacham and Nate Myers on June 4, 2014. The survey was
performed under New Mexico Archaeological Survey Permit Number (No.) NM-12-266-S. The
Archaeological Resource Management Section (ARMS) of HPD designated the survey as New
Mexico Cultural Resource Information System (NMCRIS) Activity No. 130929. Brad Beacham
served as the project manager, field director, primary author and principal investigator. Nate
Myers served as field crew and a contributing author on the report. Kristen Reynolds reviewed
the report as a qualified historian.
1-1
The project area is located within Township 21 South, Range 26 East, Sections 25 and 26, in the
City of Carlsbad, as shown on the Carlsbad West, NM (1985) and Carlsbad East, NM (1978)
7.5-minute United States Geological Survey (USGS) quadrangles (Figures 1-1 through 1-3). The
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates for the Beginning of Project (BOP) are as
follows (Zone 13, North American Datum [NAD] 83): Easting (E) 569694, Northing (N)
3590242. The UTM coordinates for the End of Project (EOP) are as follows (Zone 13, NAD 83):
E 571244, N 3590884.
1-2
Figure 1-1. Project Vicinity.
1-3
Figure 1-2. Overview of the Project Area Showing the APE (1:24,000 Scale).
1-4
Figure 1-3. Overview on Aerial Imagery of the Project Area Showing the APE (1:24,000 Scale).
1-5
2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The City of Carlsbad contracted with Molzen Corbin to complete a corridor study for Callaway
Drive, extending from the north side of the low water crossing at the Pecos River to West Cherry
Lane. In following with the NMDOT’s Location Study Procedures, Molzen Corbin has defined
five alternatives for roadway improvements to Callaway Drive. Common elements to each of the
alternatives include the construction of a multi-modal path, the relocation of existing utility
poles, and construction of a retaining wall. The proposed multi-modal path is to be located along
the north side of the existing drainage canal, north of Callaway Drive and the CID’s East Canal.
The relocation of existing utility poles will be from their present location along the north edge of
Callaway Drive to either a position closer to the CID irrigation canal or to the north side of the
drainage canal where the pedestrian path is proposed to be located. The retaining wall adjacent to
the south side of the East Canal is proposed to resolve a grade difference between the ditch and
the roadway shoulder, where the roadway is in close proximity to the irrigation canal.
Alternative 1 consists of a 40 foot (ft) wide roadway including a 12 ft driving lane, 4 ft shoulder,
and 2 ft curb and gutter on both sides of the roadway. This alternative is basically an
enhancement of the existing roadway as the roadway would remain as a two lane roadway.
Alternative 2 consists of a three-lane roadway inclusive of a continuous turn lane. This
alternative includes 12 ft driving lanes, 4 ft shoulders, and 2 ft curb and gutters on both sides of
the roadway. Additionally, this alternative includes an 11 ft continuous turn lane and a 4 ft
sidewalk on the south side of the roadway. This alternative has a width of 51 feet.
Alternative 3 is a less expensive version of alternative 2, as it is a three-lane roadway but does
not include curb and gutter. This alternative has a width of 43 ft consisting of a 12 ft driving lane
and 1 ft shoulder on each side of the roadway. Also featured is an 11 ft turning lane. On the
south side of the roadway are 2 ft curb and gutter and a 4 ft sidewalk.
Alternative 4 is a two-lane hybrid. This alternative combines features of alternatives 1 and 2 as
the roadway transition between a 2 and 3 lane roadway. At its 3-lane section, the roadway has a
width of 51 feet just like alternative 2 with an 11 ft turn lane, 12 ft driving lanes, 4 ft shoulders, 2
ft curb and gutter sections, and a 4 ft sidewalk on the south side of the roadway.
Alternative 5 is a 4-lane roadway consisting of four 11 ft driving lanes, two 2 ft curb and gutter
sections, and a 4 ft sidewalk on the south side of the roadway. This alternative has a width of 51
ft.
2-1
3. ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT
Environmental Context
The proposed project area lies within the Lower Pecos Valley Subsection of New Mexico’s
Great Plains Province. This province is characterized by terraced valleys and tablelands adjacent
to the Pecos River (Hawley 1986). Topographically, the study area extends in an approximately
east-west orientation, north of Carlsbad and west and parallel to the Pecos River. The project
area is presently associated with the Chihuahuan Desert Scrub biotic zone (Dick-Peddie 1993);
however, the natural setting has been significantly altered by human activities, inclusive of
transportation, agricultural and residential development. The portion of the corridor east of the
South Canal is completely developed. Disturbances within the project vicinity include the road
grade and fill associated with Callaway Drive, extensive residential development abutting much
of the length of the corridor, the Riverside Country Club Golf Course, existing utility easements,
and maintained orchards and related irrigation facilities.
Soils within the project area are represented by four soil types: Anthony sandy loam, zero to one
percent slopes, Tonuco loamy fine sand, zero to three percent slopes, Upton gravelly loam, zero
to nine percent slopes, and Upton soils, one to three percent slopes (NRCS 2014). Upton soils are
the most predominant, constituting 64.9 percent of the project area. These soils are well-drained,
and derived from mixed alluvium. It is commonly found on fans and ridges with one to three
percent slopes. Anthony sandy loam constitutes 30.5 percent of the project area. This soil is
deep, well-drained, and formed from alluvium derived from sedimentary rock. It is commonly
found on alluvial fans and flood plains. Upton gravelly loam constitutes 4.0 percent of the
project area. This soil is deep, well-drained, and derived from residuum weathered from
limestone. It is commonly found on ridges and fans. Tonuco loamy fine sand constitutes 0.5
percent of the project area. This soil is thin to bedrock, excessively drained, and formed from
mixed alluvium and/or eolian sands. It is commonly found on plains and alluvial fans.
Prior to human influence, the Chihuahuan Desert Scrub vegetation community was typical of the
project area (Dick-Peddie 1993). Due to the aforementioned sources of disturbance, observed
natural flora, with exception of landscaped and other ornamental plantings, within the project
area was primarily limited to area west of the South Canal. Ground visibility was typically better
than 85 percent throughout the project area. Though sparse in sections, the diversity of natural
vegetation observed throughout the western portion of the project area was consistent and
included fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens), honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa),
littleleaf sumac (Rhus microphylla), white thorn acacia (Acacia constricta), cat claw acacia
(Acacia greggii), western soapberry (Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii), soaptree yucca
(Yucca elata), Broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae), christmas cholla (Opuntia
leptocaulis), russian thistle (Salsola tragus), prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp.), and various forbs
and grasses. The only notable difference was the presence of apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa),
3-2
and various shrubs, forbs and bunch grasses. Conversely, the developed section east of the South
Canal is complete landscaped and includes a variety of ornamental floral species.
The climate of the project area is characterized as semiarid. Climatic data were collected at a
weather station located in Carlsbad, NM from February 1st, 1900 to March 31st, 2013 (Western
Regional Climate Center [WRCC] 2014). During this period, mean annual precipitation was
32.61 cm (12.84 inches). Rainfall was heaviest from May through October. Average minimum
temperature was 8.4 degrees Celsius (C) (47.2 degrees Fahrenheit [F]), while average maximum
temperature was 25.9 degrees C (78.6 degrees F). Average annual snowfall totaled 11.2 cm (4.4
inches). Snowfall was heaviest from December through February (WRCC 2014).
Cultural Context
Because the cultural resources documented during this inventory date to the twentieth century, a
review of the prehistoric culture history is not included in this report. Comprehensive overviews
of the area are available from sources such as Cordell and McBrinn (2012), Hogan (2007),
LeBlanc and Whalen (1980), Lehmer (1948), and Stuart and Gauthier (1981). The reader is
referred to these sources for a description of the prehistory and protohistoric periods of
southeastern New Mexico. The following includes a brief summary of the history of the area
beginning with the first incursions of the Spanish into what is now New Mexico.
Historic Era Overview (A.D. 1540 to 1950)
Spanish Colonial Period
During the Spanish Colonial Period, southeastern New Mexico was very remote frontier that was
not settled and little explored. What exploration that did occur in the region was along the Pecos
River Valley. The Espejo-Beltran expedition was probably the first Spanish entrada to journey
through southeastern New Mexico as it followed the Pecos River to its confluence with the Rio
Grande (Hinshaw 1984:4).
The Espejo-Beltran expedition was launched in 1582 ostensibly as a rescue effort for two
Franciscan friars who remained behind from the Chamuscado and Rodríguez expedition of 1581
to 1582 in order to continue their missionary work among the New Mexico pueblos. In reality,
the Espejo-Beltran expedition was more interested in exploring the potential mineralogical
wealth of the region (Timmons 2014). The expedition journeyed up the Rio Conchos and Rio
Grande rivers through El Paso Del Norte to the southernmost Rio Grande pueblos. There the
party discovered that the two friars had been killed by the groups they had attempted to
missionize. The expedition continued to explore the region, venturing as far as the Hopi Pueblos
of Arizona (Timmons 2014). On the return route, the expedition followed the Pecos River Valley
all the way to its confluence with the Rio Grande, being the first Europeans to do so. Espejo was
also the first to attribute the name of New Mexico to these northern reaches of the Spanish
empire (Hinshaw 1984:4). The Espejo-Beltran expedition also provided the first account of the
3-3
Jumanos, a protohistoric group whose ties to both prehistoric and ethno-historic occupations of
the region remain a topic of debate among scholars (Miller and Kenmotsu 2004:259).
Mexican Period A.D. 1821 to 1848
In 1821, Mexico declared independence from Spain. Hoping to encourage settlement in its
northern frontier, the newly established Mexican government awarded a much larger number of
land grants than had been previously allotted under Spanish rule. In fact, the total area given in
land grants between 1821 and 1846 exceeded that granted by the Spanish in the preceding 125
years (Bowden 1971). However, no land grants were established in the lower Pecos River
Valley due to the remote nature of the location. Throughout the Mexican period of governance of
the area, the Pecos River in what is now southeast New Mexico served as the western border of
Comancheria. The frequency of attacks by the Comanche discouraged any permanent settlement
in the region.
American Period A.D. 1848 to Modern
As a result of the Mexican-American War, New Mexico became a
US Territory by an Act of Congress in 1850. Early territorial
settlement in southern New Mexico was mostly focused along the
Rio Grande Valley, and exploration and settlement of the
southeast corner of the future state was slow to develop. One of
the earliest US military explorations of the area was a military
escort led by Captain Randolph Marcy, which guided for an
emigrant train from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Santa Fe. On his
return trip, Marcy’s expedition was one of the earliest American
explorers to describe the Guadalupe Mountains, in addition to
traveling down the Pecos River Valley.
The Marcy expedition was followed by another military
Figure 3-1. Photograph of
exploration led by Captain John Pope. Initiated in 1854, Pope’s John Pope in later years as
mission was to locate a potential route for a railroad from the a Brigadier General.
Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Pope identified a
promising route along the flat plains of the Llano Estacado and the Pecos River Valley, but the
lack of natural water sources beyond the Pecos was problematic (Smith 2014). Seeking to
remedy this problem, in 1855 Pope returned to the area with a company of engineers and
excavated a well to a depth of 360 feet at a location south of the confluence of the Pecos and
Delaware Rivers. The effort was accompanied by two companies of dragoons to provide
protection against the Comanche (Smith 2014). Though the well struck water, the pumps could
not lift it from such a substantial depth, and the unlined well soon collapsed (Clampitt 2008:11).
The effort was abandoned in 1858, and the camp was used as a stop along the Butterfield
3-4
Overland Stage Route during its operation
from 1858 to 1861. The location of Pope’s
well and camp was inundated by the
creation of the Red Bluff Reservoir in the
late 1980s (Smith 2014).
Military expeditions and patrols into the
area of what would become Eddy County
continued during the 1860s and 1870s. As
military outposts and patrols ended the
threat of Comanche raids, the territory of
the southern Llano Estacado gradually
Figure 3-2. Painting of Pope’s Well operation circa
began to open for ranching and settlement.
1858, by expedition artist Harry S. Sindall.
The
Goodnight-Loving
Trail
was
established in 1866 and traveled along the Pecos River Valley. The Goodnight-Loving trail
ushered in the age of the cattle empires to the region. John Chisum’s Jingle-Bob Ranch
encompassed the area of modern Carlsbad, later becoming part of the Eddy-Bissell Cattle
Company founded by Charles Eddy. The Pecos and Rio Hondo River Valleys were major centers
for cattle ranching through the late 1890s, when a series of blizzards and droughts decimated the
cattle herds along the Pecos. The era of the open range was gradually ended by the passage of a
series of homestead acts, including the Homestead Act of 1862, the Desert Land Act of 1877,
and the Enlarged Homestead Act of 1909, which facilitated the acquisition of public lands by
homesteaders. By the turn of the century, the influx of homesteaders made open range cattle
ranching impractical and forced the withdrawal of large scale cattle operations from southeastern
New Mexico.
The Carlsbad Irrigation District
Early American settlement of the Pecos Valley near Carlsbad
began in the early 1880s, most of which focused on cattle
ranching operations. A few settlers also started agricultural
endeavors dependent on small private irrigation ditches that
derived water from the Pecos or its tributaries. In 1888, wellknown lawman Pat Garrett and cattle mogul and entrepreneur
Charles B. Eddy became partners in the Pecos Irrigation and
Investment Company. Eddy sought to take advantage of the
1877 Desert Land Act, which allowed large tracts of land to be
claimed if irrigation improvements were made. Through this
company, Garrett and Eddy dreamed of creating an agricultural
empire built around a complex network of irrigation systems
built along the lower Pecos Valley. Garrett’s own farm near
Figure 3-3. Charles B. Eddy,
founder of Carlsbad.
3-5
Roswell had four hundred acres under irrigation, an orchard of 700 apple trees, and a dairy
(Gardner 2011:190-191).
Garrett and Eddy’s venture was part of an optimistic drive in reclamation activity across the west
that boomed during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Elaborate irrigation systems
were also built along the Rio Pe᷈nansco and Delaware River valleys during the early years of the
early twentieth century. The success of these systems was generally short lived, as they were not
robust enough to cope with natural flooding. Periodic floods destroyed dams and ditch networks,
or filled them with silt. In some cases, floods would channelize the drainage, leaving the
irrigation ditches that depended on it high and dry. A more incipient threat to these irrigation
systems was posed by the gradual lowering of the water table and droughts, leaving the irrigation
systems without sufficient water to operate.
The Pecos Irrigation and Investment Company initially struggled to secure funding for its efforts
near Carlsbad, but soon solicited the backing of John Hagerman, a wealthy Colorado financier
who had made his fortune in railroads, mining, and iron smelting. The irrigation consortium was
reorganized as the Pecos Irrigation and Improvement Company in 1890. Ironically, the attraction
of big investors to the project ended Garrett’s involvement. Garrett lacked the capital to match
the larger investors’ purchase of company stock and by 1890 he was forced out of the irrigation
consortium (Gardner 2011:191). Hagerman’s backing was essential to the project, and he also
possessed the resources to sponsor the construction of the Pecos Valley Railroad. The railroad
provided the means of bringing the agricultural products of the Pecos Valley to the regional and
national market (Hufstetler and Johnson 1991:2).
The primary dam of the irrigation system, the Avalon Dam, was mostly complete by 1890. From
the Avalon Dam, primary canals on both sides of the river ran southwards. The east primary
canal crossed to the west bank of the Pecos on the north end of the Eddy townsite where the
Pecos River channel divided. The crossing was accomplished via a large wooden flume
supported by trestles (Hufstetler and Johnson 1991:2). The primary canals provided water to a
network of irrigation ditches that, at its peak, provided water to approximately 15,000 acres of
land around Eddy. This acreage was much less than the one million acres that the Pecos
Irrigation and Improvement Company had optimistically projected would be brought under
irrigation by the project (Hufstetler and Johnson 1991:2).
In order to improve the storage capacity of the irrigation network, construction of the McMillan
Dam commenced in 1893. The dam was named after project investor William McMillan, a
wealthy St. Louis industrialist attracted to the project by Hagerman (Birchell 2014). The
McMillan Dam had a capacity of up to eight times that of the Avalon, and was noted as the
largest artificial reservoir in America at the time (Birchell 2014).
In a stroke of bad fortune, the under-construction McMillan and the Avalon Dams were
destroyed by a flood in the summer of 1893. Using funds provided by Hagerman, both dams
3-6
were rebuilt, but the momentum of the project was lost. The venture was proving unprofitable
and began to lose its investors; Hagerman shifted his focus to the irrigation system at Roswell,
and Eddy departed from the Pecos Valley in 1895. Success was also hampered by the
expediently constructed, unlined ditches, which lost large volumes of water due to seepage and
evaporation. The irrigation company also struggled to develop suitable crops and farming
techniques for the area (Hufstetler and Johnson 1991:2). Without the funds of Hagerman to keep
the venture afloat, the unprofitable Pecos Irrigation and Improvement Company went into
bankruptcy in 1898.
The irrigation project was
reorganized in 1901, with the
Eddy operation now separated
from the Roswell area network
as an independent entity. The
Eddy irrigation network became
the Pecos Irrigation Company,
which was managed by Francis
G. Tracy. Under Tracy’s
leadership,
the
company
returned a modest profit for a
few years, and sufficient
Figure 3-4. Carlsbad residents on early Harley-Davidson
funding was available to replace motorcycles pose in front of The Flume.
the wooden fume across the
Pecos with an impressive concrete aqueduct. This aqueduct, completed in 1904, remains today as
an essential component of the irrigation system and is a local landmark referred to as the “The
Flume” or “The Arch” (Hufstetler and Johnson 1991).
Disaster struck the irrigation system again in 1904 when another flood destroyed the Avalon
Dam. The new concrete flume, though damaged, survived this flood (Birchell et al. 2010).
Without the storage capacity of the dam, the irrigation system no longer operated and the
company lacked the funds to repair it. The community turned to the recently established US
Reclamation Service, in hopes the new Federal entity would buy out the project and repair the
system. Local historian Donna Birchell relates that a former Rough Rider living in the
community sent a personal request to then President Theodore Roosevelt for the Reclamation
Service to take control of the irrigation project (Birchell et al. 2010:31). However it came about,
the Reclamation Service soon agreed to provide supervisory assistance in the construction of a
temporary replacement for the Avalon Dam pending a final buyout deal for the system. The
funding for the project was raised by the local community. The temporary dam was completed in
1905, but promptly failed during its first filling. With this failure, the Carlsbad irrigation network
lapsed into another period of dysfunction, which left the local agricultural economy stagnant
(Hufstetler and Johnson 1991:3).
3-7
The failure of the Avalon replacement dam lent urgency to the final takeover of the Pecos Valley
Irrigation Company by the Reclamation Service, completed in December of 1905. The
Reclamation Service quickly initiated construction of a new Avalon Dam with a concrete and
steel core, completed in 1907. The Reclamation Service made additional improvements to the
system, allowing for additional acreage to be brought under cultivation. The Carlsbad irrigation
network soon became one of the earliest successful projects for the Reclamation Service. After
suffering damage by yet another flood in 1911, the Avalon Dam was modified with the addition
of cylinder gates to the floodway, serving as one of the first installations of this new technology.
This design was later incorporated into the much larger Hoover Dam project (Hufstetler and
Johnson 1991:4).
Despite some local bids to further expand the system with a third dam between the Avalon and
McMillan Dams, the Carlsbad Irrigation District did not undergo any additional improvements of
note until the 1930s. By this time, some structural issues with the McMillan Dam were evident
and capacity was reduced by siltation. The availability of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
labor provided a means to make improvements to the system, and two CCC camps were
established in Carlsbad. Through the efforts of the CCC, major improvements were made to the
McMillan and Avalon Dams, as well as lining most of the ditches in the system with concrete or
stone masonry. The Alamogordo Dam, some 160 miles upstream on the Pecos, was also
completed in 1938 and provided additional capacity to the system (Hufstetler and Johnson
1991:5).
Following the end of World War II, the Reclamation Service gradually limited its involvement in
the Carlsbad Irrigation District, and turned over control of the irrigation network to local
management in 1949. The Reclamation Service, now the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), retained
ownership and management of the Avalon and McMillan Dams. In the following decades, the
capacity of McMillan Dam was steadily reduced from its original 82,600 acre feet to 33,600 acre
feet, and its structural safety continued to be a source of concern for the BOR. The BOR decided
the best solution would be to construct a new dam to replace the aging McMillan. Construction
on this project, dubbed the Brantley Dam, began in 1984 and was complete by 1989. With the
McMillan Dam no longer needed, its reservoir was drained and the dam was breached in 1991,
just short of the hundredth anniversary of its construction (Birchell 2014).
The Formation of Eddy County and Carlsbad
Prior to the formation of Eddy County, Lincoln County encompassed the entire southeast corner
of the New Mexico territory. Eddy County was carved out of Lincoln County on January 25,
1889, the result of a petition submitted to the Territorial Legislature by Charles Eddy, Joseph
Lea, and Pat Garrett (Birchell and Southeastern New Mexico Historical Society 2011). The
county bore the name of its most active booster, Charles Eddy. The formation of Eddy County
3-8
and its northern neighbor, Chaves County, were both driven by irrigation projects promoted by
these three men (Birchell and Southeastern New Mexico Historical Society 2011:9).
In 1886, Charles Eddy constructed a stone house just north of the town site of Eddy, at the time
serving as the only building between Roswell and the Texas border. This stone house was
relocated to a park near The Flume by the Carlsbad Historical Society in 1991. The Eddy town
site was originally platted as part of the irrigation district envisioned by Charles Eddy. The town
was surveyed by N.A. Nymeyer, and the town was christened Eddy on September 15, 1888 by
Lillian Greene, daughter of Eddy’s partner Charles Greene (Birchell et al. 2010).
With the financial backing of James J. Hagerman
and the advertising provided by St. Louis
newspaperman Charles Green, the community
soon began to grow. The new town boasted a
downtown area of brick buildings by 1892. These
buildings housed the various commercial aspects
of the Hagerman and Eddy partnership; the
Irrigation Company office, the Pecos Valley
Railroad, the Pecos Valley Townsite Company,
and the First National Bank of Eddy (Hufstetler Figure 3-5. The original Eddy County
and Johnson 1991). The impressive Hagerman Courthouse.
Hotel was built in 1896, and the Gothic Victorian style Eddy County Courthouse was completed
in 1892, and later enlarged in 1914 (Birchell and Southeastern New Mexico Historical Society
2011).
After Charles Eddy had given up on his irrigation venture and departed from the Pecos Valley,
the town voted to rename the community. The name of Carlsbad is attributed to Robert Weems
Tansill, who served as a manager in the Carlsbad irrigation project. Tansill believed the local
spring water possessed the same curative abilities as the hot springs of the spa town Karlsbad,
Czechoslovakia, of which he was a frequent visitor. The name Karlsbad translates to English as
“Carl’s Cure”. The town was officially named Carlsbad on May 23, 1899 (Birchell et al. 2010).
After the Reclamation Service took control of the town’s irrigation system and made much
needed improvements, the future stability of Carlsbad was assured. The economy of the town
and county continued to rely on cattle and agriculture; however, this began to change with the
discovery of oil and potash deposits. The first oil well in the county was drilled near Artesia in
1909 and began to produce modest quantities of oil. On Christmas Eve of 1920, the Illinois No. 3
well erupted a geyser of oil, confirming the existence of substantial deposits in the area. The first
well near Carlsbad, the Ghetty Shallow, was drilled in 1926 twelve miles east of town (Birchell
and Southeastern New Mexico Historical Society 2011:73).
3-9
The early oil exploration efforts in the area led to the discovery of potash deposits by geologist
V.H. McNutt in 1925. The United States Potash Company began to mine the deposits in 1930,
and began to process the first commercial grade ore in 1932 (Birchell and Southeastern New
Mexico Historical Society 2011:73). The potash mining industry expanded after World War II,
and along with oil and gas, became a major contributor to the local economy.
The Carlsbad Army Air Field
During the early 1940s, Army Air Force training bases were established across the country, nine
of which were established in New Mexico. The Carlsbad Army Air Field (CAAF) was
established on September 9, 1942. Two hundred buildings had been constructed at the base
during the spring and summer of 1942, while a CCC camp to the north of Carlsbad served as the
temporary headquarters. Once the airfield was complete, the CCC buildings were relocated to the
CAAF. The CAAF was established as a twin-engine mechanic and bombardier training school,
but was soon reoriented to cross train gunners as navigators and bombardiers. The base trained
pilots with 192 AT-11bomber trainer aircraft, two B-17s, and several B-24 Liberators (Cranston
2014).
The CAAF was built on 1,678 acres of municipal land and included four runways and eight
hangars. The base included typical squadron barracks and classrooms structures, in addition to
amenities such as a theater, golf course, library, gymnasium, Post Exchange, and a chapel. The
CAAF used 26 earthen bombing targets located around Carlsbad, Roswell, and Hobbs (Cranston
2014).
The CAAF also hosted one of the more bizarre military weapons experiments tested during the
war. Based on an idea submitted by a concerned civilian, an Army sponsored research team
collected bats to be fitted with small incendiary bombs. The bats were to be released from
aircraft above Japanese cities, and would carry the incendiary bombs into buildings and
structures when they roosted. The bombs were attached with small strings to a surgical clip in the
bat’s chest; in theory the bat would chew through the string and leave the bomb behind. The batdelivered incendiary bombs would then act as a terror weapon, igniting fires across a Japanese
target city (Glines 1990). During the test at the CAAF, a mock Japanese village, a hangar, and a
general’s car were burned to the ground when bats fitted with live bombs were accidentally set
free. Subsequent to the CAAF test, the project was handed off to the Navy, then to the Marine
Corps, but the bat bomb project was never developed into a functional weapon system (Glines
1990).
The base was closed shortly after the end of the war on September 30, 1945. Many of the base
buildings were relocated and reused in Carlsbad. The former location of the CAAF is now
occupied by the Cavern City Air Terminal and the Carlsbad Industrial Park. The majority of the
CAAF buildings have been demolished or collapsed, and little remains of the base today
(Cranston 2014).
3-10
Carlsbad Caverns
One evening in 1901, a local cowboy named Jim White
thought he saw smoke emerging from what he believed
might be a volcano. Upon closer inspection, White found
the smoke to be thousands of bats emerging from the
entrance of a large cave. Amazed, White soon began to
explore the cave which would become nationally known
as Carlsbad Caverns. Although others may have seen the
entrance prior to his discovery, White was the first to
attempt systematic exploration of the cave and to
promote it. Carrying only a kerosene lantern for light,
White boldly explored the cave system for years with
homemade ladders and any volunteers that were willing
to assist him. White’s descriptions of the cave attracted
little interest among the local residents, other than to
draw a bat guano mining operation to the cave. Bat Figure 3-6. Early visitors to
Carlsbad Caverns prepare for the
guano was often used as an ingredient in fertilizer, and guano bucket ride.
the operation removed the deposits from the cave floor
with a steam-engine powered winch and large iron bucket (Birchell et al. 2010).
By the 1920s the cave began to receive the attention it
deserved. In 1923, Robert Holley, an inspector with the
US General Land Office, brought the cave to the
attention of the Federal Government. Holley
recommended the cave be protected as a national
monument, which was established in October of 1923.
Jim White would serve as the primary guide at the cave
for many years after it was established as a monument
(Birchell et al. 2010; National Park Service 2014).
Figure 3-7. Jim White, the figure
wearing a cowboy hat near the base of
the stalagmite, guiding an early cavern
tour.
Early visitors to the cave were lowered down via a winch
attached to the large bucket left behind by the guano
operation. Visitation soon outpaced this slow and unsafe
method of entry into the cave, and a staircase from the
natural entrance into the cave was built in 1925. The
monument was upgraded to National Park status by an
act of Congress in 1930. To further improve public
access to the cave, an elevator was installed straight
down 750 feet into the cave’s Big Room in 1931, a
system which was improved during the 1950s. A CCC
3-11
camp was established at the monument in 1938, and the CCC built and improved many trails
throughout the monument (National Park Service 2014).
Carlsbad Caverns soon became a key tourist attraction to the area, and was primarily responsible
for adding tourism to Carlsbad’s economic base. It remains a popular attraction today, along with
the nearby Guadalupe Mountains National Park which was established in 1972.
Modern Carlsbad and Eddy County
Carlsbad continues to grow today, serving as the largest city in Eddy County, with the 2010
census recording a population of over 26,000. The economy of Eddy County and Carlsbad draws
upon the oil, gas, and potash industries, in addition to tourism and agriculture. Since 1999,
eastern Eddy County has been home to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) facility, a deep
geological repository for transuranic nuclear waste. Transuranic waste generally consists of
common items such as clothing, gloves, rags, tools, and sediments that have been contaminated
with radioactive elements. The WIPP facility houses these materials in rooms mined over 2,000
feet underground within a 2,000 feet thick salt formation. The materials stored at the WIPP
facility are brought from across the country for secure disposal. Although controversial, the
WIPP facility has also introduced a valuable source of revenue and employment to Eddy County.
3-12
4. PREVIOUS RESEARCH SUMMARY
Prior to the initiation of fieldwork for the proposed project, a records search of NMCRIS and the
files of the BLM Las Cruces District Office were conducted by Brad Beacham. Current listings of
the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and the New Mexico State Register of Cultural
Properties (SRCP) were also consulted to determine the presence of any cultural properties or
districts within 500 m of the project APE. The results of the NMCRIS search indicated that 10
previous cultural resources surveys had been conducted within 500 m of the current APE (Table 41). Of those 10 previous surveys, three (NMCRIS Numbers 77378, 93012, and 129098) overlap in
part with the current project APE. This search also identified five previously recorded
archaeological sites within 500 m of the APE (Table 4-2). The search of the current NRHP and the
SRCP listings identified one historic property, the Carlsbad Irrigation District, within 500 m of the
current project (Table 4-3). Contributing elements to this State and National Register listed
property overlap in part with the APE of the current project. Mapping showing the locations of all
of these surveys and resources is provided in Appendix A.
Table 4-1. Previous Cultural Resources Surveys Within 500 m of the Project APE.
NMCRIS
No.
Performing Agency
Activity Type
Completion
Date
77378
Geo-Marine Inc.
Archaeological
Survey
4/23/2002
78965
NM State Highway & Transportation Dept
Archaeological
Survey
7/3/2002
83922
Taschek Environmental Consulting
Archaeological
Survey
6/30/2003
93010
Boone Archaeological Services, LLC
Archaeological
Survey
5/19/2005
93012
Archaeological
Survey
5/19/2005
110510
Marron and Associates
Archaeological
Survey
6/16/2008
112059
SWCA Environmental Consultants
Archaeological
Survey
11/30/2008
119340
Archaeological
Survey
5/11/2010
4-1
NMCRIS
No.
Performing Agency
Activity Type
Completion
Date
125024
US Bureau of Land Management, Carlsbad Field Office
Archaeological
Survey
8/16/2012
129098
Parametrix
Archaeological
Survey
10/14/2013
Table 4-2. Previously Recorded Sites Within 500 m of the Project APE.
LA No.
Site Type
Occupation Type
8049
Structural
Prehistoric
8050
Structural
Prehistoric
48773
Structural
Historic and Prehistoric
168744
Structural
Historic
173717
Structural
Prehistoric
Table 4-3. SCRP and NRHP-listed Properties Within 500 m of the Project APE.
NMCRIS ID No.
SR 7
NR 66000476
Property Name
Property Address
Carlsbad Irrigation District
Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico
4-2
5. FIELD METHODS
An intensive (100-percent) pedestrian cultural resource survey of the project APE was conducted
by Brad Beacham and Nate Myers on June 4, 2014. The APE was defined, in consultation with
the City of Carlsbad, Molzen Corbin, and in accordance with HPD and NMDOT guidelines, as
the project footprint, as well as a buffer area extending 15 m (50 ft) beyond the right-of-way. The
APE was closely examined for the identification of archaeological sites, historic buildings,
structures, and objects that could be impacted by the proposed project. The buffer area was
visually inspected for standing historic buildings, structures, and objects that may be affected by
the proposed project. The survey was performed under New Mexico Archaeological Survey
Permit Number (No.) NM-12-266-S. ARMS designated the survey as NMCRIS Activity No.
130929.
The survey area is a combination of undeveloped and developed residential and rural setting,
extending from the bridge approach on the north side of the Pecos River along along Callaway
Drive to the intersection with West Cherry Lane. Resource locations shown on the Carlsbad
West, NM (1985) and Carlsbad East, NM (1978) 7.5-minute USGS quadrangle maps were
obtained through the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. UTM coordinates were
obtained using NAD 83 projections, on a Trimble GeoXH GPS unit with a positional accuracy of
less than 1 m (3.28 ft). Shapefiles of the project corridor were also created using a geographic
information system (GIS) and uploaded to the Trimble GeoXH for cross-referencing purposes.
Using ArcPad software, Epsilon Systems surveyors followed project boundaries to ensure
adequate coverage of the entire survey area (consisting of 13.38 hectares [33.06 acres]). The
survey coverage was conducted by walking parallel transects spaced 15 m (50 ft) apart across the
entire project area. In addition, the 15 m (50 ft) buffer area was visually inspected for standing
historic buildings, structures, and objects that may be affected by the proposed project.
Epsilon Systems evaluated the APE for potential districts and/or cultural landscapes using the
standards outlined in New Mexico Register Volume XVI Issue Number 15 (Commission of Public
Records 2005) and National Park Service (NPS) National Register Bulletin 30 (McClelland,
Keller, Keller, and Melnick 1999). Other materials used to guide identification of districts and
landscapes include NPS Preservation Brief 36 (Birnbaum 1993) and the Historic Transportation
Corridor’s thematic issue of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) (National Park Service
1993). These documents, developed primarily by the NPS, discuss and use the term landscapes,
in contrast to terms related to eligibility for the NRHP, where an NPS “landscape” would be
defined as a site or a district (36 CFR 60.2).
In-use historic properties (buildings, structures, water delivery systems [acequias], and objects)
were recorded using the New Mexico Historic Cultural Properties Inventory (HCPI) form or
Historic Water Delivery System Inventory Form (HWDSIF), as appropriate. Each historic
resource was photographed and its location recorded with the GPS receiver. Form 1 of the HCPI
5-1
form was completed for all historic properties. Form 2 was completed only for historic properties
that are recommended as being eligible to the NRHP or as having an undetermined eligibility
status.
Historic aerial photographs (from 1936, 1950, 1955 and 1974) of the project area and records of
the Eddy County Assessor’s Office were consulted to aid in the temporal classification of the
historic cultural properties within the project’s APE. These records also informed the NRHPeligibility assessments, historic district discussion, culture history, and the interpretive summary
of this report.
Sites are generally defined as occurrences of one or more features, or at least 10 artifacts in an
area of 100 square meters, that are estimated to be at least 50 years old. Resources not meeting
this definition are considered Isolated Occurrences (IOs). IOs are generally defined as any nonstructural remains of a single event; alternatively, any non-structural assemblage of
approximately 10 or fewer artifacts within an area of approximately 10 square m or less,
especially if it is of questionable human origin or if it appears to be the result of fortuitous
causes. Information recorded for IOs includes the area (for IOs consisting of more than one
artifact), artifact type and frequency, and sketches of diagnostic artifacts. The same artifact
analysis forms used in the recording of sites are used to analyze IOs. Definitions of sites and IOs
follow the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) 4.10.15.7.
No archaeological sites, IOs, nor descansos were documented and no artifacts were collected
within the APE during this investigation. As such, the methods for documenting these types of
resources are not included in this report.
5-2
6. FIELDWORK RESULTS
As noted in Chapter 5, an intensive pedestrian survey of the proposed project APE was conducted
by Epsilon Systems staff. A total of four historic acequias segments all associated with the
Carlsbad Irrigation District were inventoried during the course of the fieldwork. No isolated
occurrences, archaeological sites or historic buildings were identified during the course of the
survey. The complete results of the survey are provided below.
Historic Acequias
Historic Acequia 1: Main Canal (HCPI Number 34006)
UTM Coordinates: NAD 83 Zone 13S, E 569909, N 3590753
Land Ownership: Carlsbad Irrigation District
A small segment of Acequia 1, the Main
Canal of the CID, was documented within
the project APE. The unlined canal extends
for a distance of approximately three miles
from the base of the Avalon Dam,
terminating at the Bifurcation Works on the
north side of Callaway Drive. The
Bifurcation Works of the Main Canal
consists of three sets of concrete gates
constructed in 1907 under the direction of
the US Reclamation Service (the East Canal
Turnout, Checkgate No. 1, and Wasteway
Figure 6-1. View to the east/southeast along the Main
No. 1), allowing for the diversion of water to Canal with the Bifurcation Works in the background.
the east via the East Canal and the south via
the Southern Canal and Wasteway No. 1
(Hufstetler and Johnson 1991). Wasteway No. 1 diverts excess water back to the Pecos River,
while Checkgate No. 1 conveys water for irrigation. Both of these features fall outside of the
APE for the current project. Within the project APE, the Main Canal varies in width at the top of
the channel from approximately 21.3 m (70 ft) to approximately 10.7 m (35 ft) at the East Canal
Turnout of the Bifurcation Works. Due to the presence of water at the time of the inventory,
measurements of the canal depth and basal width were not possible. The Main Canal of the CID
dates to as early as 1889, and has been subject to regular maintenance throughout the duration of
its use. The canal is flanked on either side by service roads and remains well-maintained and in
use to this day.
6-1
NRHP Evaluation, Effect, and Management
Recommendation
The Main Canal is an acknowledged
contributing resource to the CID system, a
National Historic Landmark listed on the
NMSRCP (SR No. 7) as well as the NRHP
(NR No. 66000476) under both Criteria A
and C. As designed, the proposed Callaway
Drive improvements will avoid the Main
Canal and all of those elements contributing
to the eligibility of the historic property.
Therefore, subject to consultation and Figure 6-2. View to the east of the Main Canal
terminus at the East Canal Turnout.
comment, the proposed undertaking will
have no effect on the Main Canal. No further
6-2
Historic Acequia 2: Southern Canal (HCPI Number 34007)
A short segment of Acequia 2, the Southern
Canal of the CID, was documented within
the project APE. The concrete-lined acequia
is a diversion from the Main Canal,
extending approximately 588.4 m (1,930 ft)
south from Checkgate No. 1 of the
Bifurcation Works, crossing to the west side
of the Pecos River via the Pecos River
Flume, and continuing south for a distance
of approximately 15 linear miles (Hufstetler
and Johnson 1991). Within the project area,
the Southern Canal is conveyed beneath
Figure 6-3. Overview to the north along Acequia 2 with
Callaway Drive via concrete box culvert view of Checkgate No. 2.
(CBC). A gauge station (Feature 1) is
present immediately south of Callaway
Drive, consisting of a stilling well approximately 3.7 m (12 ft) south of the CBC and a broadcrested weir approximately 24.4 m (80 ft) south of the CBC. Such structures are common
elements associated with irrigation facilities, allowing for the measurement of volumetric water
flow rate within the canal. The canal is flanked on the east side by a discontinuous service road,
allowing access to the stilling well and weir on the south side of Callaway Drive.
Figure 6-4. Overview to the north along Acequia 2
with view of Feature 1.
Within the project APE, the Southern Canal
maintains a relatively consistent maximum
channel width of approximately 15 m (50 ft).
Due to the presence of water at the time of
the inventory, measurements of the canal
depth and basal width were not possible. The
canal remains well-maintained and in use.
The Southern Canal of the CID dates to as
early as 1889 and was improved with
concrete lining in 1925 (Hufstetler and
Johnson 1991). The canal is in good
condition, appears to be structurally
maintained, and remains clear of debris.
6-3
NRHP Evaluation, Effect, and Management Recommendation
The Southern Canal is an acknowledged contributing resource to the CID system, a National
Historic Landmark listed on the NMSRCP (SR No. 7) as well as the NRHP (NR No. 66000476)
under both Criteria A and C. As designed, the proposed Callaway Drive improvements will be
conveyed over the Southern Canal via the existing CBC structure. The proposed footprint of the
roadway improvements will be confined to the limits of the existing structure. As such, the
proposed project will avoid the Southern Canal and all of those elements contributing to the
eligibility of the historic property. Therefore, subject to consultation and comment, the proposed
undertaking will have no effect on the Southern Canal. No further management consideration is
warranted for this resource.
6-4
Historic Acequia 3: East Canal (HCPI Number 34008)
A 1,326-m (4,350-ft) segment of Acequia 3, the East
Canal of the CID, was documented within the project
APE. The concrete-lined canal is a diversion from the
Main Canal, extending approximately 6.5 miles east from
the Bifurcation Works (Hufstetler and Johnson 1991).
The segment of the East Canal within the project area
extends from the East Canal Turnout along the north side
of Callaway Drive to the western project terminus at
West Cherry Lane. The East Canal maintains a relatively
consistent typical section within the project APE
inclusive of a concrete-lined flat bottom and walls angled
at approximately 45 degrees, and measuring
approximately 3.2 m (10.5 ft) wide at the top, 1 m (3.28
ft) wide at the base, by 1 m (3.28 ft) deep.
Features associated with the documented segment of the Figure 6-5. Overview to the east along
East Canal include the East Canal Turnout, a gauge Acequia 3 with view of the East Canal
station, two bridge crossings, a main gate, and a side Turnout in the background.
gate. Feature 1, the East Canal Turnout, is a concrete
structure with wing walls, housing two, cast-iron slide gates. The gates are operated by
independent screw-lift mechanisms set atop a control platform spanning the turnout. The turnout
was constructed in 1907 and measures approximately 10.7 m (35 ft) in length by 1 m (3.28 ft) in
width.
Figure 6-6. Overview to the southeast of Acequia 3
with view of Features 2 and 3.
Feature 2 is a gauge station present
approximately 41.1 m (135 ft) east of the
East Canal Turnout, consisting of an offset
stilling well housed in a metal shelter, a
concrete foot bridge, and a short-form flume.
The fixed flume maintains a flat bottom and
straight walls throughout, with a converging
section, followed by a short throat section,
before returning to the typical section of the
canal. Such structures are common elements
associated with irrigation facilities, allowing
for the measurement of volumetric water
6-5
flow rate within the canal. The current flume appears to be a modification of the prior
configuration, where the existing converging and throat sections have replaced a diverging
section.
Feature 3 is a concrete slab bridge that spans the canal immediately east of the flume. The bridge
rests atop the concrete lining of the canal and is inscribed with the date “7-24-68”. The slab is
intended for vehicular traffic and measures approximately 3.7 m (12 ft) in length by 4.9 m (16 ft)
in width.
Feature 4 is a small pedestrian bridge spanning the East Canal. The bridge is constructed of
railroad ties and steel pipe, with a metal grate deck. Feature 4 measures approximately 4.9 m (16
ft) long by 1.2 m (4 ft) wide, with a 0.9 m (3 ft) high hand rail.
Feature 5 is a slide gate with a screw-lift mechanism, spanning the East Canal. The gate is
numbered L-2-0 and constructed of tarsoaked, milled lumber set in concrete.
Feature 5 is present in the south wall of the
East Canal and serves as the head gate for an
unnamed lateral (Acequia 4).
Feature 6 is a slide gate with a screw-lift
mechanism, spanning the East Canal. The
gate is numbered EC-32 and constructed of
two by 10-inch creosote boards set in
concrete.
The canal remains in use and wellFigure 6-7. Overview to the southeast of Acequia 3
maintained. The East Canal of the CID dates with view of Feature 6.
to as early as 1889 and was improved with
concrete lining by the CCC between 1938 and 1939 (Hufstetler and Johnson 1991). The canal is
in good condition, appears to be structurally maintained, and remains clear of debris. Notable
modifications to the canal include four sealed side gates all located in the south wall of the canal,
the removal of one slide gate spanning the canal, and the conveyance of the canal by concrete
pipe beneath Hays Drive.
NRHP Evaluation, Effect, and Management Recommendation
The East Canal is an acknowledged contributing resource to the CID system, a National Historic
Landmark listed on the NMSRCP (SR No. 7) as well as the NRHP (NR No. 66000476) under
both Criteria A and C. As designed, the proposed roadway improvements will include
improvements to Quail Hollow Run and Hays Drive at their respective intersections with
Callaway Drive. Quail Hollow Run and Hays Drive are conveyed over the East Canal via
6-6
existing concrete slab structures. The proposed improvements at these locations will be confined
to the limits of the existing structure, thus avoiding the East Canal and those elements
contributing to the eligibility of the historic property. Additionally, the proposed improvements
will include the construction of a retaining wall adjacent to the East Canal, as needed, to resolve
a grade difference between the ditch and existing grade where the roadway shoulder is in close
proximity to the canal. The retaining wall will reduce the potential for erosion and retain the
integrity of purpose and functionality for the irrigation facility. During construction of the
retaining wall, Epsilon Systems recommends that manual excavation be required within close
proximity to the East Canal in avoidance of impacts to the resource. Therefore, subject to
consultation and comment, the proposed undertaking will have no adverse effect on the East
Canal. No further management consideration is warranted for this resource.
6-7
Historic Acequia 4: HCPI Number 34009
A segment of Acequia 4, an unnamed lateral,
was documented within the project APE.
The concrete-lined acequia is a diversion
from the East Canal, extending beneath and
beyond Callaway Drive to the south.
Immediately north of the intersection with
Callaway Drive, the lateral narrows to a
width of approximately 2.5 ft. An eight-inch
thick, board formed, concrete slab bridge
extends above the lateral, conveying
Callaway Drive over the acequia.
Approximately 100 m south of Callaway
Figure 6-8. View to the south along Acequia 4 with
Drive and beyond the limits of the current Callaway Drive in the background.
APE, the concrete lining terminates,
transitioning into stone masonry construction. The masonry section maintains a distinct
curvilinear alignment, a marked departure from the straight alignment of the concrete-lined
section. While the original date of construction is unknown, the lateral was improved with
concrete and stone masonry lining in 1939, based on CCC date stamps present in at least two
locations along the length of the acequia. Acequia 4 is approximately 2.1 m (7 ft) wide at the top,
0.6 m (2 ft) wide at the bottom, and 0.6 m (2 ft) deep. The lateral is in good condition, appears to
be structurally maintained, and remains clear
of debris. Acequia 4 is an unnamed lateral
within the CID system, and was constructed
by or before 1939.
NRHP Evaluation, Effect, and Management
Recommendation
Figure 6-9. View to the south along Acequia 4 showing
transition to cobble construction and CCC stamp.
Via the East Canal, Acequia 4 is an
extension of the CID system, a National
Historic Landmark listed on the NMSRCP
(SR No. 7) as well as the NRHP (NR No.
66000476). As such, Acequia 4 is
recommended eligible for the NMSRCP and
the NRHP under Criterion A, due to its
6-8
association with the historic CID. Furthermore, Acequia 4 is recommended eligible for the
NMSRCP and the NRHP under Criterion C, due to the presence of concrete and stone masonry
construction with CCC stamps, serving as an example of improvement efforts completed
between 1938 and 1939 for the CID system (Hufstetler and Johnson 1991).
resource.
6-9
7. INTERPRETIVE SUMMARY
Epsilon Systems’ current investigation identified and documented four historic acequias. These
resources all are related to the late-nineteenth to mid-twentieth-century establishment and growth
of Carlsbad, and in particular the Carlsbad Irrigation District. The current project area serves as a
limited sample of historic resources; however, the identified irrigation facilities provide a
snapshot of the developmental sequence of the broader system and the surrounding community.
The documented canals and lateral date to as early as 1888, with continuous improvements and
modifications through the 1930s.
The limited scope and context of the documented cultural resources makes it difficult to offer
significant insights regarding the larger scope of the archaeological or historical record of
southeastern New Mexico. However, a few general observations are provided below. Resourcespecific interpretations are offered in the preceding sections and should be referenced for
interpretive purposes.
Originally conceived of by the Pecos Irrigation and Investment Company in 1888, the CID
served as optimistic reclamation endeavor tapping into lucrative allowances provided by the
Desert Land Act of 1877. The development of the CID facilitated the agricultural intensification
of the Pecos Valley and the nascent community of Carlsbad. Historically, the CID experienced a
series of setbacks resulting in a series of developmental and organizational booms and busts. The
periods best exemplified by the findings of the current project include the inception of the CID
under the privately held Pecos Irrigation and Improvement Company (1888 to 1904), and the
subsequent period fostered by the US Reclamation Service followed by CCC efforts (1904 to
1949), resulting in sustained modification and improvement. The agricultural intensification of
the Pecos Valley in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries is largely due to the development
of the CID. The CID is largely responsible for the early economic success of Carlsbad and the
current appearance and setting of the area. Acequias 1 through 4 are all directly related to this
development.
7-1
8. NRHP RECOMMENDATIONS
Management Recommendations
Four historic acequias were located and documented within the APE during the current
inventory. These include the Main Canal, the Southern Canal, the East Canal, and an unnamed
lateral that is a diversion from the East Canal. The Main, Southern and East Canals are each
recognized, portions of the CID, a National Historic Landmark listed on the NMSRCP (SR No.
7) as well as the NRHP (NR No. 66000476) under both Criteria A and C.
Acequia 1, the Main Canal, overlaps with a small portion of the proposed project APE. As
proposed, the Callaway Drive improvements will avoid the Main Canal and all of those elements
contributing to the eligibility of the historic property. Therefore, subject to consultation and
comment, the proposed undertaking will have no effect on the Main Canal. No further
Acequia 2, the Southern Canal intersects the project alignment at one location. As designed, the
proposed Callaway Drive improvements will be conveyed over the Southern Canal via the
existing CBC structure. The proposed footprint of the roadway improvements will be confined to
the limits of the existing structure. As such, the proposed project will avoid the Southern Canal
and all of those elements contributing to the eligibility of this historic property. Therefore,
subject to consultation and comment, the proposed undertaking will have no effect on the
Southern Canal. No further management consideration is warranted for this resource.
Acequia 3, the East Canal, parallels much of the project corridor along the north side of
Callaway Drive. As designed, the proposed project will include improvements to Quail Hollow
Run and Hays Drive at their respective intersections with Callaway Drive. Quail Hollow Run
and Hays Drive are conveyed over the East Canal via existing concrete slab structures. The
proposed improvements at these locations will be confined to the limits of the existing structure,
thus avoiding the East Canal and those elements contributing to the eligibility of the historic
property. Additionally, the proposed improvements will include the construction of a retaining
wall adjacent to the East Canal, as needed, to resolve a grade difference between the ditch and
existing grade where the roadway shoulder is in close proximity to the canal. The retaining wall
will reduce the potential for erosion and retain the integrity of purpose and functionality for the
irrigation facility. During construction of the retaining wall, Epsilon Systems recommends that
manual excavation be required within close proximity to the East Canal in avoidance of impacts
have no adverse effect on the East Canal. No further management consideration is warranted for
this resource.
Acequia 4, an unnamed lateral intersects the project alignment at one location. Via the East
Canal, Acequia 4 is an extension of the CID system. As such, Acequia 4 is recommended
8-1
eligible for the NMSRCP and the NRHP under Criterion A, due to its association with the
historic CID. Furthermore, Acequia 4 is recommended eligible for the NMSRCP and the NRHP
under Criterion C, due to the presence of concrete and stone masonry construction with CCC
stamps, serving as an example of improvement efforts completed between 1938 and 1939 for the
CID system (Hufstetler and Johnson 1991).
resource.
If the recommendations made in this report are followed, subject to consultation and comment,
Epsilon Systems recommends that the proposed Callaway Drive Corridor Study should have no
adverse effect to any resources listed, or eligible for listing, in the NMSRCP or NRHP.
However, should cultural materials be exposed during construction, all work should cease
immediately and SHPO should be contacted.
8-2
9. REFERENCES
Birnbaum, C.A.
1993 Protecting Cultural Landscapes: Planning, Treatment and Management of Historic
Landscapes. Preservation Brief 36, National Park Service.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/brief36.htm
Birchell, D.B.
2014 Electronic document, http://www.currentargus.com/carlsbad-news/ci_25259369/donnabirchell-mcmillan-dam-once-one-greatest-world, accessed on June 24, 2014.
Birchell, D.B., and the Southeastern New Mexico Historical Society
2011 Eddy County. Arcadia Publishing, Charleston.
Birchell, D.B., Southeastern New Mexico Historical Society, and the Carlsbad Public Library
2010 Carlsbad and Carlsbad Caverns. Arcadia Publishing, Charleston.
Bowden, J. J.
1971 Spanish and Mexican Land Grants in the Chihuahuan Acquisition, Texas Western Press,
El Paso.
Cordell, L., and M. McBrinn
2012 Archaeology of the Southwest, 3rd Edition. Left Coast Press, Inc., Walnut Creek,
California.
Cranston, V.
2014
Electronic document, http://www.currentargus.com/ci_22707499/only-memories-remaincarlsbad-army-air-field-was, accessed on June 24, 2014.
Dick-Peddie, H. W.
1993 New Mexico Vegetation: Past, Present, and Future. University of New Mexico Press,
Albuquerque.
Gardner, M. L.
2011 To Hell on a Fast Horse: The Untold Story of Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett. Harper, New
York.
9-1
Glines, C.V.
1990 The Bat Bombers. Electronic document,
http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/1990/October%201990/1090bats.a
spx, accessed on June 24, 2014.
Hawley, J. W.
1986 Physiographic Provinces. In New Mexico in Maps, edited by J. L. Williams, pp. 23-27.
University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.
Hinshaw, G.
1984 Lea, New Mexico’s Last Frontier. 3rd ed. Hobbs Daily News-Sun, Hobbs, New Mexico.
Hogan, P.
2007 Southeastern New Mexico Regional Research Design and Resource Management
Strategy. Office of Contract Archaeology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
Hufstetler, M. and L. Johnson
1991 National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Carlsbad Irrigation District.
Renewable Technologies, Butte, Montana.
Lehmer, D. J.
1948 The Jornada Branch of the Mogollon. University of Arizona Bulletin No. 19(2), Tucson.
McClelland, L.F., J.T. Kellar, G.P. Kellar, and R.Z. Melnick
1999 Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Rural Historic Landscapes. National
Register Bulletin 30, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb30/
Miller, M.R., and N.A. Kenmotsu
2004 Prehistory of the Jornada Mogollon and Eastern Trans-Pecos Regions of West Texas. In
The Prehistory of Texas, edited by T.K. Perttula. Texas A&M University Press, College
Station.
National Park Service (NPS)
1993 Historic Transportation Corridors. Thematic issue of CRM Magazine. National Park
Service, Washington, D.C.
2014 Caverns’ Chronology. Electronic document,
http://www.nps.gov/cave/historyculture/upload/history_site_bulletin.pdf , accessed June
25, 2014.
9-2
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
2014 Web Soil Survey. Electronic Document, http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov, accessed
June 11th, 2014.
Stuart, D. E., and R. P. Gauthier
1981 Prehistoric New Mexico: Background for Survey. University of New Mexico Press,
Albuquerque.
Timmons, W. H.
2014 Espejo-Beltran Expedition. Electronic document,
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/upe02), accessed June 10, 2014.
Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC)
2014 Carlsbad, New Mexico, Period of Record Monthly Climate Summary. Electronic
document, http://www.wrcc.dri.edu , accessed June 11th, 2014.
9-3

A Cultural Resource Survey for the Callaway Drive

Transcription

Similar documents

Print PDF - James Sarles Realty

Winterlude

NEW

Ad, 8.625x11.125, Laverson, RanchandCoast

EndoSequence Chairside Card

Print PDF - James Sarles Realty

Soho RETAIL

Ad, 8.625x11.125, Laverson, RanchandCoast

Callaway Competition C7 GT3-R Brochure

Napoleon Container Terminal

Acequia Governance Handbook - New Mexico Acequia Association