GeomorphIS to Provide EIS Objection Period Support to Sequoia and Sierra National Forests, California

The USDA Forest Service, Region 5, Ecosystem Planning branch has tasked GeomorphIS to provide support to the objection process for the e
Sequoia National Forest and Sierra National Forest plan revision efforts. This includes general objections support, as well as facilitation services and stenographic services in support of objection meetings for the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests. These meetings will take place on the Sequoia and/or Sierra National Forests or a nearby location, sometime in 2022.

NPS Selects GeomorphIS to Conduct Archaeology Survey at Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas

The National Park Service has selected the GeomorphIS/Algonquin team to complete an archeological survey of approximately 25 acres within the Big Sandy Unit of Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas.  The work is in anticipation of future longleaf restoration activities. Two contiguous locations are proposed, on either side of Sunflower Road. One is on the north side of Sunflower Road and the other parcel is on the south. This is an undeveloped area southwest of Dallardsville, Polk County, Texas. The GeomorphIS team will conduct a shovel test pit survey on 30-meter grid for property known as the Big Sandy Unit 2021 planting area. It is estimated that approximately 113 shovel test pits will be necessary to complete this survey. Excavated soils from each shovel test pit (STP) will be dry-screened through 1/4-inch hardware cloth mesh screens in order to recover any artifacts in the soil matrix. Likewise, the constituent soil matrix and stratigraphy of each STP shall be recorded, employing standard Munsell Soil Chart terminology. GeomorphIS will prepare a final report documenting results in conformance with the Texas Historical Commission and National Park Service standards. Additionally, all GIS data, will be submitted in accordance with the National Park Service Cultural Resource Spatial Data Transfer Standards: Guidelines for Use and Implementation (see attached 91-page document). 

USFS Tasks GeomorphIS to Conduct Obsidian Source Studies for Klamath National Forest, California

The USDA Forest Service, Klamath National Forest, tasked the GeomorphIS/Far Western team to conduct obsidian source studies. The Obsidian Source Hydrate 2021 project proposes two types of scientific analysis (sourcing and hydration) for obsidian samples from US Forest Service lands in Siskiyou County, CA. The GeomorphIS team will conduct obsidian geochemical sourcing to industry standards on 360 obsidian samples (cultural and natural) and obsidian hydration on 150 samples (cultural) provided by the Klamath National Forest. The Forest will submit the artifacts to the GeomorphIS team in two phases; phase one to be submitted in fall of 2021, phase two to be submitted to by August 31, 2022. The GeomorphIS team will subject the artifacts to both source analysis and hydration analysis or just source analysis. Source analysis will be completed using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). Individual sources within the Medicine Lake Highlands (MLH) will be delineated, not grouped. Hydration analysis will include hydration band measurements and measurement means needed to date the artifacts.

GeomorphIS Conducts Orange Bridge Recordation for BLM Elko DO, NV

The BLM Elko District Office selected GeomorphIS and team members US West Research and G2 Archaeology to prepare a Nevada Architecture Recordation and Assessment (NARA) form, report, and determination of eligibility for Orange Bridge, which spans Marys River about 35 miles north of Deeth, Nevada. The products will be used to partially fulfill the BLM’s obligation under Title 54 U.S.C. §300101,   seq., commonly known as the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA), and Title 54 U.S.C. §306108, commonly known as Section 106 of the NHPA (Section 106), Nevada State Protocol Agreement (Protocol), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).