Guidelines: the use of cultural resource information in water resource environmental impact reports

Abstract

The essence of this study was to develop a standardized method for developing comprehensive planning techniques which catalogue and evaluate the good cultural resources. The method chosen has been the development of general guidelines to be followed by project planners and administrators in conducting cultural resource analysis on Federally funded water projects. Through the use of these guidelines the author has attempted to demonstrate complete analysis of the cultural resource component of the environmental constraint. Analysis of this constrain component should be broadly applicable. Water related projects were singled out because of their unique impact on cultural resources. In the Southwestern United States in particular, development has been riverine and riparian in both the prehistoric and historic eras. If it is indeed recognized that the past is important enough to rate at least partial preservation, then water resource projects must be evaluated in terms of their potential impact upon these resources. This need has been mandated by Federal code, and in many instances has been placed into State and local code. In this report techniques for putting law into practical action will be demonstrated.