A MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR SITES AT THE ARCADIA DIVERSION DAM
AREA AND SHERMAN RESERVOIR

By Steven R Holen and Thomas P. Myers, Principal Investigators,
and Danial Watson, Project Director
Nebraska Archaeological Survey
University of Nebraska State Museum

Submitted to:
State Historic Preservation Office
Nebraska State Historical Society
Lincoln, NE
May 21, 2001

Introduction

This management plan for archaeological sites at Sherman Reservoir and the Arcadia Diversion Dam Area is the result of meetings and conference calls between representatives of the Bureau of Reclamation, the Nebraska State Historical Society, the Loup Basin Reclamation District, and the University of Nebraska State Museum. These discussions centered on the best way to manage archaeological properties at the Arcadia Diversion Dam and Sherman Reservoir, properties presently owned by the Bureau of Reclamation. Ownership of this irrigation project is being transferred to the Loup Basin Reclamation District. The sites involved include eight sites at the Arcadia Diversion Dam area contributing to a proposed National Register of Historic Places District and site 25SM20 at Sherman Reservoir.

Sherman Reservoir Long Term Management

Testing conducted at 25SM20 in 1997, 1998 and 1999 identified a total of seven (7) prehistoric houses and numerous extramural features. We propose the complete excavation of the two houses nearest the rapidly eroding shoreline and all extramural features closest to the shoreline. We expect a significant number of features outside the houses, based on soil core tests and previous research experience at similar sites of this age. We estimate that excavation of these extramural features will be as intensive as the excavation of another complete house structure.

Following excavation, we propose systematic monitoring of the shoreline at 25SM20. This is necessary to determine if previously undiscovered deeply buried archaeological components are being exposed by shoreline erosion. This monitoring activity would additionally serve to determine the rate of erosion and potential threat to the remaining known cultural deposits. The portion of site 25SM20 remaining after major excavation will be monitored pursuant to the easement granted to the University of Nebraska State Museum.

If shoreline monitoring should discover a significant new archaeological site eroding out of the shoreline at Sherman Reservoir, we will work with the Loup Basin Reclamation District and the State Historic Preservation Office to develop a plan of action to mitigate the damage to the newly discovered site. Additional funding for the protection of the new discovery may be necessary. See Stipulation 1 of the Memorandum of Agreement.

Excavation of the two houses and associated extramural features at site 25SM20 will occur only after consultation with the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. Consultation will be conducted by University of Nebraska State Museum personnel with experience consulting with the Pawnee on several archaeological projects. A knowledgeable Pawnee Tribal Historian will serve as a consultant on the project.

Arcadia Diversion Dam Area Management Plan

Site 25CU92, the "Doc" McKenzie Site, is a multiple component site containing cultural materials from late prehistoric, Archaic, and Paleoindian occupations. To date, we have documented multiple components in the modem topsoil, one early Archaic Logan Creek component buried nearly two meters deep, and at least three components deeper than the early Archaic component (7,000-8,500 years before present). The multiple occupations spanning more than 8,000 years, and potentially longer, make the "Doc" McKenzie Site one of the most important archaeological sites in Nebraska.

This site covers a minimum of 8 acres in the project area. The site may also extend onto private land to the west. Our excavation of 10 square meters and additional shovel tests and posthole tests provide only a very preliminary understanding of the site. However, this small amount of testing definitely indicates that the site is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

We have not yet tested the deepest buried A horizon soil on this site. This horizon is dated to about 10,000 years before present. The soil contains charcoal as indicated in profiles of cutbank exposures, and it is possible this soil contains cultural deposits.

We know that the buried early Archaic Logan Creek component at 25CU96 contains intact deposits with features. It is one of only two sites of this temporal/cultural affiliation that contain intact features available for study in Nebraska. There may be deeper cultural deposits buried at this site and we will conduct deep coring to determine if earlier archaeological components exist. If such deposits exist, we will conduct, the appropriate analyses to determine the approximate age of these components.

Prehistoric sites on Terrace 2 east of the Middle Loup River represent short-term occupations of the area by Native Americans for the past two thousand years. We were able to determine the age/cultural affiliation of some of these sites based on the diagnostic artifacts excavated. Other sites lacked diagnostic artifacts and their age can only be inferred by stratigraphic position in the terrace fill.

Summary of Management Plan for Sites at Arcadia Diversion

Sites 25CU92 and 25CU96 are rare and important to an understanding of Nebraska and Plains archaeology. Both appear to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places based on the evidence from preliminary test excavations. We have developed the following plan for-managing these important cultural resources.

1. We will conduct a five-year project to test the lower components at the "Doc" McKenzie Site, 25CU92. These test excavations will define the number, depth, extent, and nature of the earlier occupations. The testing will be carried out within the framework of a geoarchaeological research design developed by Nebraska State Museum researchers in archaeology and geomorphology.

At 25CU96, we propose tests on the terrace surface both north and south of the testing completed in 1998. Deeper coring will also be conducted to determine if older cultural deposits exist. We propose development of an agreement with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Loup Basin Reclamation District to make certain the road bisecting the site does not have additional grading that will cause further damage to the site.

After the testing phase is completed and the extent and nature of the sites is better defined, the sites can be managed more effectively and efficiently. If the sites warrant additional research beyond the scope of the five-year plan, outside funding would be sought by the University of Nebraska State Museum from other funding agencies. A small amount of additional geomorphic work and deep testing is also needed at the sites east of the Middle Loup River. We propose to conduct these tests during the same period as tests at 25CU92 and 25CU96.

2. The sites at the Arcadia Diversion Area will be monitored on a yearly basis, funded by money from the endowment created by the contract agreement.

3. Two significant historic sites exist at the Arcadia Diversion Dam. These two sites are in more danger from vandalism than the prehistoric sites at this locality because they are shallowly buried. These sites will be monitored frequently with the assistance of district staff and other local interested parties to make certain that no vandalism occurs. These parties will contact the appropriate personnel at the University of Nebraska State Museum, who will notify the appropriate authorities and if necessary evaluate the degree of impact on the site(s).

4. The proposed National Register of Historic Places district at the Arcadia Diversion area will be covered by an easement granted to the University of Nebraska State Museum This easement would help ensure the future integrity of the sites within this proposed district.

Conclusion

This long-term site management plan for sites at Sherman Reservoir and the Arcadia Diversion area will mitigate the adverse effect of the transfer of archaeological properties from Federal management to Loup Basin Reclamation District control The mitigation efforts will include partial excavation of site 25SM20 and monitoring of the shoreline at Sherman Reservoir. Mitigation will also include a permanent easement on site 25SM20 and sites at the Arcadia Diversion Area. Additional test excavations will be conducted at sites 25CU92 and 25CU96 to determine site boundaries and number of components. The historic sites at Arcadia will be monitored on a regular basis by University of Nebraska State Museum personnel.