Fruitvale Transit Village (Phase 2) Initial Study - City of Oakland

Initial Study and Environmental Review ChecklistRadiocarbon analyses confirm the occurrence of sites that date from 5,275 before present (B.P)(CA-ALA-566; Gmoser, 1998) to 300 B.P. (CA-ALA-555; Wiberg, 1996). The age anddistribution of these sites suggest that additional Middle and Upper Archaic archaeological sitesmay be present within the project area (Koenig, Mc Ilroy, and Meyer, 2001:8).The records search at the NWIC identified one prehistoric archaeological site recorded within a onemileradius of the project area. The site (P-01-010872) is located approximately 0.45-mile north ofthe Fruitvale BART station and is recorded as an area with a “reported abundance of oyster shellsand Indian grinding stones” that was once known as the Bold Ranch (Schwartz, 2006). The site wasnoted in a 1992 Oakland Heritage Alliance handout used during a sponsored walk of the vicinity.No other information is known about the former or current conditions of the site.No sites have been recorded in the project area; however, the location has been built upon and/orpaved for over 100 years. In order to assess the potential for prehistoric sensitivity ageoarchaeological approach must be considered. In the Oakland area, known prehistoric sites tendto be located about 0.5 mile or less from a present or former water source on relatively stablelandforms. The project area is located in the immediate vicinity of two major drainages—theSausal and Peralta creeks. Furthermore, the project area is mapped as Holocene alluviumimmediately east of an area of Late Holocene alluvium that was once the drainage of SausalCreek. The geomorphic setting of many previously-recorded prehistoric archaeological sites inthe region is comparable. Thus it appears that the project area has the potential for containingpreviously unidentified prehistoric archaeological resources based on the following factors:(1) the presence of relatively stable Holocene-age terrestrial landforms; (2) proximity to theOakland estuary and other water sources, and (3) the presence of landforms similar to those atnearby previously recorded prehistoric sites.It appears that the project area is in a culturally sensitive area that has the potential for containinglegally significant prehistoric archaeological resources. Project construction activities will includesubsurface disturbance, and there exists the potential to encounter previously unrecordedresources in the project area. Accidental damage or destruction of significant archaeological siteswill be considered a significant impact to cultural resources. Project effects on prehistoricarchaeological resources will be less than significant by implementing Standard ConditionCUL-1, below.Historic-period Archaeological ResourcesAccording to the NWIC records search, a previous cultural resources study for the FruitvaleTransit Village Phase 1 project area was completed in 1996. This report identified the project areaas having the potential to contain buried historic-period archaeological resources representative ofthe early commercial and residential development of the Fruitvale district (Hupman and Chavez,1996:34). More specifically, the current project area was analyzed as “Block D.” The history ofBlock D was summarized as follows:Block D is enclosed by present-day East 12th Street, 37th Avenue, the Union Pacific rightof-way,and 35th Avenue. The site is situated in the southwest corner of City Block 2041,Fruitvale Transit Village Phase 2 33 ESA / 208475Initial Study December 2008