Lower Colorado River Surveys – Copper Basin Wash (California) and Eagle Wash (Arizona)

Resource use and historic-period mining on both sides of the Colorado River

The Copper Basin Wash and Eagle Wash surveys were conducted in compliance with the Bureau of Reclamation’s responsibilities under Section 110 [a][2][A] of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470). On the Copper Basin Wash survey, 3,849 acres were surveyed, and 59 sites were recorded representing lithic reduction sites, prehistoric rockshelters, indigenous trail sites, historic telephone lines, historic trash sites and staging areas, a historic home, and historic mining sites. On the Eagle Wash survey, 3,748 acres were surveyed, and 15 sites were recorded that represent remarkably well-preserved historic mining sites associated with the Cienega Mining District and the transportation network that linked them. The eligibility of all sites for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places was evaluated.