Confidential 115kV TLRR Cultural Resources Survey

SWCA conducted the cultural resources work for this 360-mile-long transmission line project that traverses the Owens Valley and Mojave Desert, through three Counties, four BLM Field Offices, and multiple military installations. SWCA and its subconsultants prepared technical studies in support of the Proponent’s Environmental Assessment (PEA), which included the archaeological, historic architectural, and paleontological resources assessment for the project. SWCA conducted agency coordination, authored a Work Plan and an Ethnographic Literature Search document, conducted a Class III intensive pedestrian inventory, and prepared the Class III inventory report, as well as a Visual Impacts Assessment (VIA).

Over 1,000 archaeological resources and 450 built environment resources were updated or newly recorded during the inventory. Working with the BLM, SWCA wrote a Work Plan that was approved quickly and easily, fieldwork followed BLM protocol for Class III surveys utilizing two different artifact densities in California; we acquired BLM fieldwork authorization (FA) permits within less than one week from four field offices. SWCA was able to accomplish all of this because of our reputation and quality of deliverables, which allows the BLM to efficiently review our work. SWCA’s work on this large, multi-year project has continued with preparation of a Buried Site Sensitivity Analysis and Archaeological Evaluation Plan, testing of sites along the Proposed Project, and preparation of multiple Archaeological Evaluation Reports.

More recently, SWCA has conducted Class III surveys, prepared inventory reports, Buried Site Sensitivity Analysis, and a VIA for three Alternative alignments proposed by BLM. A symposium at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Society for California Archaeology featured multiple presentations by SWCA staff, subcontractor staff, and SCE on aspects of the archaeological research conducted for the project. In April 2025, SWCA supported a multi-day site visit along the Proposed Project and two of the Alternatives, offering Tribal personnel to provide meaningful feedback to the California Public Utilities Commision, for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act permitting process.