COMMISSION

Cultural Resource Program
Conducting thorough cultural resources inventories, evaluating identified cultural resources
in terms of eligibility for listing on federal and state historic registries, and consistent
monitoring of significant historical resources are three of the main tools OHMVR Division
archaeologists utilize in protecting the valuable cultural resources
present at SVRAs. These resources are important due to their fragile,
non-renewable, and irreplaceable nature. Once damaged, their
unique value to California’s and/or our nation’s heritage may be lost
C A S S P
forever. OHMVR Division archaeologists are reliant on the cooperation of District staff,
archaeological volunteers from CASSP, and Native American consultants in developing
BMPs that help to ensure the protection of these resources.
Cultural Resource Inventories and Resource Evaluations
Conducting cultural resource inventories is a critical tool for the OHMVR Division to
identify cultural resources on land under its ownership, and occur in compliance with
PRC Sections 5024 and 4024 .1(g). The state laws and the results of the cultural resource
inventories that have been conducted in Clay Pit, Prairie City, Carnegie, Hollister Hills, and
Oceano Dunes SVRAs were previously discussed in the 2011 and 2014 Program Reports.
The OHMVR Division hired an archaeological firm to conduct a cultural resource inventory
of Eastern Kern County, Onyx Ranch SVRA (Onyx Ranch SVRA). This inventory covered
approximately 13,000 acres, and resulted in the identification and recordation of 99
archaeological sites (58 prehistoric, 36 historic-era, and five multi-component), as well
as 383 isolated finds. The results of this inventory will help inform a Cultural Resources
Management Plan (CRMP) that dictates best practices for preserving cultural resources at
the SVRA.
Although the cultural resource inventory of Prairie
City SVRA was completed in 2010, additional
archaeological survey work was conducted in the
summer of 2013 following a 176-acre prescribed
burn in compliance with PRC Section 5024. OHMVR
Division archaeologists successfully surveyed all
176 acres and five newly identified resources were
recorded. Results from this post-burn archaeological
survey have been incorporated into the existing Prairie
City SVRA cultural resource inventory.
Prescribed burn at Prairie City SVRA
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California State Parks, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission