Chapter 1 Purpose of and Need for Action

Public Involvement

Representatives of local federally recognized tribes (The Klamath Tribes, The Pit River Tribes) 

were invited to and participated in a field trip of the project area on September 7, 2007. 

Additional meetings were held with tribal representatives - on January 28, 2009 with The 

Klamath Tribes at the Goosenest Ranger Station in Macdoel, CA; and on January 23, 2009 with 

The Pit River Tribes at the Pit River Tribal Council Room in Burney, CA. 

Chapter 2 Alternatives, Including The Proposed Action

 Design Criteria Common to All Alternatives

Cultural Resources

• All proposed activities, facilities, improvements, and disturbances shall avoid archaeological 

and historic sites. Avoidance means that no activities associated with the project that may 

affect an archaeological or historic site shall occur within the site’s boundaries, including any 

defined buffer zones. Examples of such activities include but are not limited to marking 

trees for harvest, felling, skidding, decking, burning, site preparation for planting.

• All cultural resource sites within the area of potential effect shall be clearly delineated prior 

to implementing any associated activities that have the potential to affect cultural resource 

sties. This includes but is not limited to flagging site boundaries.

• When any changes in proposed activities are necessary to avoid cultural resource sites 

(e.g., project modifications), these changes shall be completed prior to issuance of the

Decision. 

• The sites within the project area will not be affected by road use as long as the roads are 

used “as-is”. Should through-site road maintenance become necessary, the following 

provisions will apply per the First Amended Regional Programmatic Agreement Among the 

U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region California State Historic Preservation 

Officer, and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Regarding the Process For 

Compliance With Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for Undertakings on 

the National Forests of the Pacific Southwest Region.

o routine road maintenance (e.g., blading and brushing) and resurfacing is allowed 

where work is confined to previously maintained surfaces (other than native 

surfaces), ditches, culverts, and other clearly disturbed contexts

o where road surfaces are native, blades must be lifted or placement of nonarchaeological material (e.g., padding or filter cloth) must be placed over the 

archaeological deposit to prevent surface and subsurface impacts (as outlined in 

the PA)

o ground-disturbing road-decommissioning activities are NOT allowed within the 

boundaries of archaeological sites

Chapter 3 Affected Environment And Environmental Consequences

Social Environment

Affected Environment

Cultural Resources

Archaeological field inventories were conducted in the project area and are recorded in 

Archeological Reconnaissance Reports (ARRs) #05-05-933, -933A, -1100, -1100A, -1100B, -
1100C, -1100D, -1100E, -1278, -1357, -1358A and -1425. In compliance with the Region 5 

Programmatic Agreement for Compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA (Provision III. D. (2)), 

relevant archaeological sites have been identified and will be protected by applying standard 

resource protection measures in or adjacent to the area of potential effect. 

No designated cultural areas (Management Area 8) are within or near the project area. A

portion of the project area does fall within the Central Highlands (Assessment Area) of The 

Medicine Lake Highlands Historic Properties Management Program: Including a Cultural 

Assessment and Guidelines for Management (2007). This management tool was used as a

guide in planning this project.

Federally Recognized Tribes were contacted early in project planning and consulted at various 

phases of this project in accordance with the Region 5 Programmatic Agreement, National 

Historic Preservation Act, and other laws and regulations. Refer to Chapter 1, Public 

Involvement. This project is in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic 

Preservation Act. 

Chapter 3 Affected Environment And Environmental Consequences

Social Environment

Environmental Consequences

Alternative 1 – No Action

Cultural Resources

No ground-disturbing activities would occur under the no-action alternative; hence, there would 

be no effects on cultural resources.

Chapter 3 Affected Environment And Environmental Consequences

Social Environment

Environmental Consequences

Action Alternatives – Alternatives 2-?

Cultural Resources

The treatments, as proposed under the action alternatives would have no direct, indirect or 

cumulative effects on cultural resources because all archaeological and historic sites would be 

protected using standard design criteria.

Appendix ? Other Applicable Documents and Reports for Compliance with Law, 

Regulation, and Policy Incorporated by Reference into the Hi-Grouse Draft Environmental 

Impact Statement 

The documents summarized and listed by author below are incorporated into the Hi-Grouse

Draft Environmental Impact Statement by reference. They can be obtained from the project file, 

located on at Goosenest Ranger District Office in Macdoel, California.

Goetz, J. 2007. Archaeological Resources Report #05-05-1715 (October 24, 2007). This 

document describes archaeological information and compliance with the National Historic 

Preservation Act related to the project. Cultural resource data for the project is based on 

information available in the cultural resource files at the Goosenest Ranger District. The cultural 

files include literature pertaining to prehistory and history, site records, and atlases that show 
recorded site locations, previously surveyed areas, and other cultural resource data. 

Approximately 89% of the analysis area has been surveyed for cultural resources. Those areas 

not surveyed include steep, rocky slopes where the probability of finding cultural resources is 

very low.

The following is a broad historical overview of the human or cultural mechanisms that have 

influenced the project area.

Prehistory Period: Archaeological research indicates that American Indians occupied the 

Modoc Plateau for at least the last 10,000 years. While no archaeological research has been 

conducted within the project area to determine the time depth of American Indian use, regional 

studies suggest utilization of at least 5,000 years for hunting and gathering, and quarrying 

obsidian. 

Ethnographic Period: Various northern California and southern Oregon tribal groups have 

historic and cultural ties to the greater area of the Medicine Lake Highlands. However, this area 

is the ancestral territory of the Modoc and Pit River Indians with the Modoc north of Medicine 

Lake and the Pit River to the south.

Historic Period: The first known report of the area comes from Peter Skene Ogden, a Hudson’s 

Bay fur trapper who explored here in 1826-1827. Euro-American settlement occurred from 

1855-1869, followed by the Modoc War. Euro-American settlement slowed down after the War 

until 1911 when railroad logging began in earnest. Grazing and recreation followed, beginning 

in the 1930s and continuing today.

Existing Conditions: Federally Recognized Tribes were contacted early in project planning and 

consulted at various phases of this project in accordance with the Region 5 Programmatic 

Agreement, National Historic Preservation Act, and other laws and regulations. Other local 

American Indian communities and/or interested parties were consulted as part the scoping 

process for this project. Refer to Chapter 1, Public Involvement. 

Cultural resources (archaeological and historic sites) identified during literature reviews, 

inventories and/or surveys were assessed to determine potential effects associated with 

implementation of this project. Documentation of cultural resource inspections done for the 

project’s area of potential effect includes Archaeological Reconnaissance Reports (ARRs) #05-

05-933, -933A, -1100, -1100A, -1100B, -1100C, -1100D, -1100E, -1278, -1357, -1358A and -

1425 and -1715. Surveys or inventories resulted in the identification of 5 cultural properties 

within the project area: two sites related to American Indian use (primarily lithic reduction); two

sites related to railroad logging (1910s to 1920s including limited use logging camps and 

concentrated trash deposits); and one historic road (the Davis Road) built in the late 1860s.

Prepared by: Jeanne Goetz 8/6/09