Archaeological sites of cultural and/or historic significance and Native American Tribal Cultural Resources are protected by Local, State, and Federal regulations.
Chapter 16.40 of the County Code offers special protections for Sites of Cultural Significance. County Code section 16.40.030 requires an archaeological survey for any discretionary project which will result in ground disturbance and which will be located within a mapped archaeological sensitive area or within 500 feet of a recorded Native American cultural site.
An “Archaeological survey” must include a current search of the CHRIS database and a brief preliminary surface investigation or reconnaissance performed under the guidance of a qualified professional archeologist for the purpose of determining the presence and/or extent of a cultural site on a parcel where a project is proposed. A more in-depth analysis and archeological report is required per 16.40.030 (B) if the survey concludes that the project may impact a site of cultural significance.
If an archaeological report is required for your project, you may contact an archaeologist from this list maintained by the Planning Division: List of Qualified Archaeologists. A qualified archaeologist needs to meet or exceed the minimum Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for archaeology as defined in the code of Federal Regulations, 36 CFR Part 61. In addition, any archaeologist conducting surveys and preparing reports in Santa Cruz County must be knowledgeable about the local regulations and requirements listed in County Code Chapter 16.40.
The identification of an archaeological or historic site on a property does not mean that development cannot occur. It usually does mean that certain mitigation measures, such as relocating building areas away from the site or bringing in additional fill material, must be implemented for successful completion of the development.
It is best to identify potential archaeological sites for a project as early as possible in the planning process. Early identification of a site is advantageous to the applicant because avoidance, minimization, and possible mitigation measures can be built into the project proposal.
Planning Division staff will work with all parties concerned to mitigate impacts upon the archaeological site in an expeditious and effective manner. It is important to note that failure to cease work on the project or attempting to hide the find is in violation of Section 16.40 of the County Code and possibly state criminal law. Such actions could result in a long-term delay of your project, fines and costly detailed studies of the site to be paid for by the applicant.