The San Carlos Reservoir Cultural Resources Survey: Report

At the request of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Affairs' San Carlos Irrigation Project (SCIP), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) undertook a Class III cultural resources inventory on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in the vicinity of San Carlos Reservoir, developed a cultural affiliation statement for human remains and associated objects encountered within the project area, and prepared an overview and needs assessment for cultural resources that may be adversely affected by activities related to the use and maintenance of San Carlos Reservoir.

The San Carlos Apache Tribe sought the establishment of a minimum pool in San Carlos Reservoir to prevent a total drawdown of the reservoir and a resulting catastrophic fish kill and loss of revenue from sport fishing and other reservoir-related recreational activities. The San Carlos Apache Tribe was also concerned with the effect fluctuating water levels was having on cultural resources located along the perimeter of the reservoir, particularly the possible exposure of human remains.

Archaeological Consulting Services, Ltd. (ACS) conducted an intensive Class III survey of approximately 5,200 acres of the upper Gila and San Carlos River Valleys located in the vicinity of the San Carlos Reservoir on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. Because the survey was not tied to specific construction plans, potential impacts could not be assessed. These documents present the results of this survey.

The cultural affiliation statement for this project can be found at tDAR ID: 393915.

The needs assessment for this project can be found at tDAR ID: 397321.